Oxford Method Research Programme

Major Refurbishments

 

Cost information has been available for four projects which have involved major refurbishments or changes of use.

The costs are summarised in Table 8 below. As a comparison, the table also shows a notional new-build cost derived from Departmental Cost Allowances plus notional On-Costs (at 50%). The refurbishment costs are then expressed as a percentage of the notional new-build cost.

Table 8: Analysis of Major Refurbishment* (at current price levels for 4Q2002 - Mips 383)

Comparison of Costs with Healthcare Capital Investment Coatings for 'New build'

Hospital	Specification	GFA m2	Cost/m2 £	Notional* New Build Cost/m2 £	% cost of New Build
Littlemore, nr Oxford - White Building	Storey 'shell' building into Offices and Medical Records Store, inc. removal of asbestos in columns and casings	1016	496.00	1449.00	34%
Northampton - Pathology Lab	Complete building refurbishment	600	772.18	2022.00	38%
Northampton - A&E Department	Complete building refurbishment	1630	580.68	1713.00	34%
Stoke Mandeville - Theatre 5	Theatres and full building upgrade	165	2761.78	2299.00	120%

* Based on HCl's plus 50% On-Costs

It will be seen that the projects at Littlemore and Northampton have been achieved at approximately 35 - 40% of the cost of new-build. Typically, major refurbishments would be expected to cost around 60 - 70% of new-build which suggests that the Oxford Method refurbishments have been undertaken relatively economically. Possible reasons for this could be the relatively limited works to M&E services or perhaps that refurbishment are deliberately undertaken 'cheaply' because the nature of Oxford Method buildings does not justify greater expenditure (in terms of remaining life expectancy).

The Stoke Mandeville Theatre refurbishment does not conform to the pattern shown by the other projects but the nature of the facility and the small area involved, perhaps make this an untypical comparator.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital has also experienced limitations with the structural capability of the Oxford Method frame. When a new X-Ray room was introduced into the 'New Wing' A&E Department it was necessary to strengthen both the floors and the lattice beams to take the loading of new equipment.