Serving the community through a 550-bed healthcare facility, the Trust identified an opportunity to improve the performance of its buildings as part of its wider carbon reduction strategy. With increasing demands on healthcare services and a commitment to becoming a more environmentally responsible organisation, the hospital initiated a five-year refurbishment plan designed to upgrade its flat roof assets while generating clean, renewable energy.

The first phase of the programme focused on eight roof areas covering approximately 5,000m². Detailed condition surveys revealed significant deterioration across the existing roof systems, creating both performance issues and potential health and safety concerns. The refurbishment therefore provided an opportunity to address ageing infrastructure while delivering substantial improvements in thermal efficiency and long-term asset protection.

Delivered through the LHC Framework, the project was completed by Langley Approved Contractor CWG Group. Works involved the removal of the existing inverted roof systems and the installation of Langley's TA-30 Flat Roofing System, creating a high-performance warm roof build-up designed to enhance insulation and energy efficiency. During the refurbishment, several potentially combustible details were identified and rectified using Langley's SA-20 Detailing System around key roof features including upstands, skirtings, outlets, flues and rooflights.

Further enhancements included the replacement of failed rooflights with Langley's ParaRange modular rooflights. These systems help optimise thermal performance while allowing natural daylight into the building, creating brighter internal environments without the issue of excessive solar glare.

A key element of the project was the integration of renewable energy technology. Working alongside the roofing refurbishment, Langley Eco Solutions designed, supplied and installed approximately 2,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels across the hospital estate. The solar arrays are now helping to generate renewable electricity on-site, reducing dependence on grid-supplied energy and contributing directly to the Trust's carbon reduction objectives

The environmental benefits are already substantial. One of the refurbished roof areas, measuring around 2,100m², is projected to save approximately 32.4 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to planting 1,488 trees. When considered across the wider programme, the project highlights the significant contribution that rooftop solar can make to healthcare estates seeking practical pathways towards net zero.

Importantly, all works were carried out while the hospital remained fully operational. Careful planning ensured that essential healthcare services could continue uninterrupted throughout the refurbishment process, demonstrating how large-scale roofing and renewable energy projects can be successfully delivered within challenging live healthcare environments.

Commenting on the project, Tony Marsh, Estates Services Manager at Milton Keynes University Hospital, praised the quality of delivery and the collaborative approach taken throughout the programme, highlighting both the improved energy performance of the estate and the long-term support provided through Langley's five-year maintenance scheme.

Today, the refurbishment stands as a strong example of how healthcare organisations can improve building performance, enhance sustainability credentials and support future service delivery through strategic investment in roofing and renewable energy infrastructure. By transforming underutilised roof space into a renewable energy asset, Milton Keynes University Hospital is helping create a more resilient, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible healthcare estate for the future.

Find out how Langley can support your healthcare estate's refurbishment, energy efficiency and net zero ambitions. Contact our specialists today on 01327 704778 www.langley.co.uk/healthcare/