Contract Journal reports that Kier was named the preferred bidder in November 2021, with work scheduled to begin in the summer of 2022. South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and Sunderland City Council have now given the go-ahead to sign contracts with Kier, with construction expected to begin before Christmas. Once construction begins, the new Eye Hospital is expected to take two years to complete.
“We are happy that we can now move forward with construction of our new Eye Hospital and finally start to see work happening on site,” said Ken Bremner, Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. “I want to thank the Sunderland Eye Infirmary staff for working so hard to help us create the ideal infrastructure and design for the new facility, as well as all the patients and members of the public whose feedback we listened to. Although it has taken some time to get here, things will now start to move quickly.”