Manchester Hawthorn Medical Centre Work Begins on £4m Project 2026

Key Points

• Read Construction starts building of the new Hawthorn Medical Centre worth £4.04 million in Manchester
• It will be built on Moseley Road in the proximity of the current practice located at Fallowfield Retail Park
• In May 2026 NHS Property Services appointed Read Construction as the contractor under Rise Construction Framework
• The building will offer 8,600 sqft of space, having 11 consultation rooms, three treatment rooms, and 36 parking spaces including three EV charging points
• The planning permission for the development was granted by Manchester City Council in February 2026
• Gilling Dod Architects were responsible for the design of the new medical centre with the target of achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating
• The existing practice will be relocated temporarily in December 2026 due to expiration of the lease at Fallowfield Retail Park being redeveloped into Lidl store
• Modero, Silcock Leedham Group, Curtins and others form the project team
• The completion of the construction is planned for March 2027

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 18, 2026 – Construction has officially begun on a new £4.04 million medical centre in Manchester that will replace the existing Hawthorn Medical Centre at Fallowfield Retail Park. Read Construction announced this week that it had commenced work on the new Hawthorn Medical Centre, which is being developed on Moseley Road, close to the practice’s existing location.

What is the Hawthorn Medical Centre Manchester development?

The £4.04 million construction contract was awarded to Read Construction by NHS Property Services in May 2026 through the Rise Construction Framework, according to project documentation. The published contract period runs from March 2026 to March 2027, with physical construction works now underway on site.

The project will provide a new primary care facility designed to accommodate Hawthorn Medical Centre and its walk-in centre. The single-storey building will include 11 consultation and examination rooms and three treatment rooms, alongside patient and staff facilities, parking, cycle storage and associated external works, according to Read Construction.

Planning permission for the development was granted by Manchester City Council in February 2026. The planning proposal covers the medical centre, parking, a new site access, landscaping, a plant compound, bin and cycle stores and an outdoor staff area.

Who is delivering the Hawthorn Medical Centre Manchester project?

The project team includes Gilling Dod Architects, which designed the new centre, alongside Modero, Silcock Leedham Group, Curtins and other consultants, as outlined in the planning documentation. Earlier planning documents identified Ion Acoustics, Urban Tree Management, Arbtech, Netzo, Tetra Tech, Nexus and Redmore Environmental among the wider consultant team.

The new facility is expected to provide around 8,600 sqft of accommodation. Planning documents set out 36 parking spaces, including three electric vehicle charging spaces, with access from Moseley Road via a new junction. The development is also expected to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, reflecting its commitment to environmental sustainability standards.

Why is Hawthorn Medical Centre relocating from Fallowfield Retail Park?

Hawthorn Medical Centre currently operates from Unit K at Fallowfield Retail Park. The existing site is being vacated as the retail park is redeveloped to make way for a new Lidl store, necessitating the practice’s relocation.

The practice confirmed in November 2025 that the replacement facility would be located less than 100 metres from its existing premises, minimising disruption to patients during the transition. In a July 2026 update, Hawthorn Medical Centre said the new permanent site had received planning permission and that building works were due to begin later that summer.

The practice said it would require temporary accommodation from the expiry of its lease at the existing site in December 2026 until the new permanent facility is completed. It also said a second temporary site was being developed, giving patients the option of being seen at two sites across the local area during the transition period.

When will the new Hawthorn Medical Centre Manchester open?

The latest announcement from Read Construction now confirms that construction has moved from the planned works stage into delivery, with the contract scheduled to run through to March 2027. The new centre is intended to increase clinical capacity and provide expanded facilities for patients and staff when complete.

The temporary accommodation arrangements will bridge the gap between the December 2026 lease expiry at Fallowfield Retail Park and the anticipated completion of the permanent Moseley Road facility in early 2027.

Background of the Hawthorn Medical Centre Manchester development

The Hawthorn Medical Centre relocation project emerged as part of wider redevelopment plans for Fallowfield Retail Park, where a new Lidl supermarket received planning approval. The medical practice, which has served the Fallowfield community from its retail park location, needed to secure alternative premises to maintain continuity of care for its patient population.

NHS Property Services, which manages the estate portfolio for the National Health Service in England, initiated the procurement process for a replacement facility through its Rise Construction Framework. This framework agreement streamlines the appointment of contractors for healthcare infrastructure projects across the country. Read Construction was awarded the contract in May 2026, following a competitive tender process.

Manchester City Council’s planning committee granted permission for the Moseley Road development in February 2026, after reviewing proposals that included detailed assessments of traffic impact, environmental considerations, and community healthcare needs. The planning application was supported by a comprehensive consultant team covering acoustics, tree management, ecology, sustainability, and environmental impact assessment.

The project represents a significant investment in primary care infrastructure in south Manchester, where demand for GP services has grown in line with population increases in the Fallowfield and surrounding areas. The new facility’s design incorporates modern healthcare standards, including enhanced accessibility features, improved infection control measures, and sustainable building practices aligned with NHS net-zero commitments.

Prediction: How this development can affect patients and local healthcare services

The completion of the new Hawthorn Medical Centre on Moseley Road is expected to have several measurable impacts on patients and local healthcare provision in the Fallowfield area. The expansion to 8,600 sqft with 11 consultation rooms and three treatment rooms represents a material increase in clinical capacity compared to the existing facility, potentially reducing waiting times for appointments and enabling the practice to accommodate a larger registered patient population.

The temporary relocation arrangements from December 2026 may introduce short-term disruption for patients, particularly those with mobility challenges or complex care needs who benefit from continuity of location. However, the practice’s decision to operate two temporary sites during the transition period suggests an effort to maintain geographic accessibility across the local area.

Once the permanent facility opens in 2027, the BREEAM Excellent-rated building should deliver improved environmental conditions for both patients and staff, including better air quality, natural lighting, and thermal comfort. The inclusion of 36 parking spaces with three electric vehicle charging points addresses longstanding concerns about parking availability at the current retail park location, while supporting NHS sustainability objectives.

The proximity of the new site to the existing location, at less than 100 metres distance, minimises the risk of patient confusion or loss to follow-up care during the transition. However, local residents and community groups may monitor whether the increased capacity translates into measurable improvements in appointment availability, particularly for same-day consultations and chronic disease management services.

The development also sets a precedent for how primary care facilities can be integrated into mixed-use urban regeneration schemes, balancing commercial redevelopment pressures with the need to preserve essential healthcare infrastructure in accessible locations. Other GP practices facing similar displacement due to retail or housing development may look to the Hawthorn Medical Centre project as a model for negotiating replacement facilities with developers and local authorities.