Spetisbury Construction Delivers Respiratory Department Project at Royal Bournemouth Hospital Under Budget and Ahead of Schedule
Dorset-based Spetisbury Construction has successfully completed a transformative refurbishment of the Respiratory Department at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital—three months ahead of schedule and with an 8% underspend against the original £1.5 million budget. The project was wholly funded by the Bournemouth Chest Diseases Charitable Trust (BCDCT), whose mission is to support respiratory and thoracic initiatives across the Bournemouth and Poole hospitals.
Appointed following a competitive and PPR-compliant tender process, Spetisbury Construction impressed the project team with a meticulous and visionary tender submission. Their collaborative approach and high-quality delivery earned widespread praise across the board, from clinical teams to trust stakeholders and health and safety officials.
The works—completed in May 2025—saw the complete strip-out, redesign, and refurbishment of the existing department during a period of strategic team relocation. The reimagined space has increased office capacity by 45% and clinical space by 8%, significantly improving functionality and patient care delivery.
“Spetisbury didn’t just deliver a construction project—they delivered excellence. They poured their heart and soul into the work,” said Barry Coupe, RIBA Client Advisor to the project, acting on behalf of the charity. “This was an outstanding team effort, and Spetisbury’s professionalism, commitment, and collaborative spirit ensured that every challenge became a solved problem.”
Justin Ives, Managing Director at Spetisbury Construction, added:
“This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when all parties work collaboratively towards a shared vision. We’re incredibly proud to have contributed to such a meaningful transformation for the hospital and the local community. Delivering ahead of schedule and under budget—while maintaining quality—reflects the dedication of the entire team.”
The project was expertly managed by RLM Architects, who led the design from concept to completion and acted as contract administrators. TNG Consulting Engineers were responsible for the MEP design package. Thanks to a fully developed and coordinated design, Spetisbury could proceed with clarity and certainty, driving efficiency and reducing risk during construction.
The cost savings achieved meant that original ‘wish list’ items—such as new internal doors and state-of-the-art video conferencing systems—could be reintroduced into the build. Additional unbudgeted items, including diagnostic and operational equipment, have since been funded by BCDCT thanks to the remaining budget surplus.
The project officially opened in July 2025 and is now fully operational. Staff in the Respiratory Department have expressed enthusiastic support for the new space:
- “Not only does the space look great, the functionality has improved—allowing us to better serve our patients.” – Ella, Respiratory Team
- “It’s a great space to work.” – Annabelle, Respiratory Team
- “I love it!” – Sam, Respiratory Team
One Trust Health & Safety officer commented that this was “the best-run site they had seen at University Hospitals Dorset.” Electrical APs and sub-contractors—including BF Keane—were also commended for their exemplary contribution to the project.
“It’s important to stress that because the project came in under budget, the charity has been able to fund vital extras that we didn’t think we could afford—this has made a real difference to the operation of the department. The refurbished Respiratory Department is now a hub of innovation and care,” added Coupe.