NHS Unveils First Fully Carbon Neutral Facility as a Model for Future Net Zero Builds

Image: National Rehabilitation Centre - Credit: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Set to open later this year, the new National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), managed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, is poised to become the NHS’s first fully operational carbon-neutral building. This landmark facility embodies the health service’s ambitious climate goals as it strives to hit net zero emissions by 2040.

Nestled on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate between Nottingham and Loughborough, the NRC is a flagship project under the New Hospitals Programme. It will consolidate leading rehabilitation expertise, training, and research, all housed within a single, cutting-edge site designed for maximum impact.

What sets the NRC apart? Its all-electric infrastructure, powered by three air source heat pumps (ASHPs), is complemented by an expansive 900 square meters of solar panels. These panels alone are expected to cover about 10% of the building’s energy consumption, showcasing a new benchmark for NHS energy efficiency standards.

Designed to treat up to 750 patients annually, the NRC will offer intensive rehabilitation programs aimed at improving patient outcomes. The centre’s environmental credentials and innovative approach have earned it a highlight spot during Great Big Green Week, the UK’s largest community-driven event focused on climate action.

In every sense, the NRC represents a forward-thinking leap for both healthcare sustainability and patient care.

Miriam Duffy, director of the National Rehabilitation Centre, said: “Not only will the NRC sit at the heart of rehabilitation treatment in the UK, we hope it can also serve as a model for future net zero builds from the NHS and across the UK.

“Great Big Green Week marks the perfect moment to reflect on the site’s progress so far, and as we look ahead to its completion, we are excited for the first patients to benefit from its state-of-the-art facilities.

“I hope this project will be a source of great pride to everyone at the Trust and the communities we serve, and its successful completion stands as a testament to all of the hard work and innovation invested to make it a success.”