Warneford Hospital, Oxford
Glanville support long-term estate planning at an Oxfordshire NHS hospital
Warneford Hospital in Headington, Oxford, is the oldest inpatient unit across the NHS estate. As a key facility in the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital has provided dedicated mental health care since 1813. Over the last two centuries, the historic listed buildings have undergone numerous expansions and modifications to meet evolving healthcare needs.
Recently, the trust described the hospital as ‘no longer fit for purpose,’ and revealed new proposals for a new modern mental health hospital, a brain research facility and a post-graduate college for the University of Oxford.
As part of the pre-planning and planning stages, the NHS Trust enlisted Glanville’s expertise to provide support across Geomatics, Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering for this extensive project.
Building a drainage strategy for the future
Glanville’s Civil Engineering Team was appointed to deliver a robust drainage strategy for the redevelopment, ensuring the scheme is sustainable, resilient, and sensitive to its surroundings.
For surface water, we designed a system that mirrors the hospital’s existing infiltration approach, incorporating new soakaways, permeable paving, and attenuation storage to manage storm events and climate change. Pollution controls, landscaping, and Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) techniques have been integrated to improve water quality and enhance the site’s environment.
Given the site’s proximity to the Lye Valley SSSI, our team carried out a detailed hydrological assessment, confirming that the proposed design maintains existing groundwater regimes and protects this highly sensitive habitat.
For foul water, we are upgrading the hospital’s infrastructure by re-using existing sewer connections and introducing new private sewers and pump stations, with coordination through Thames Water to confirm capacity.
This strategy future proofs the hospital’s drainage while safeguarding the local environment — playing into Glanville’s strength of delivering sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Shaping design with Structural Engineering
Our Structural Engineering team provided key input to help shape the concept design ahead of planning submission. We explored a range of options from materials and forms to layout approaches, tailored to four distinct building types, each with its own set of requirements.
To guide decision-making, multiple concept designs were developed, backed by high-level calculations to justify structural sizes and carried out embodied carbon assessments for each option. Clear communication was key: we prepared sketches to illustrate ideas, an options matrix to compare alternatives, and report text to feed into the Design & Access Statement.
Glanville project managed this design stage, working alongside a number of other businesses; including Eric Parry Architects, Hoare Lea, RSK, Ridge & Partners and more.
3D modelling with Glanville’s Geomatics team
Our Geomatics team developed 3D digital twins of multiple historic and modern NHS buildings to support estate management, space utilisation, maintenance planning and future redevelopment strategies. These highly detailed models assist in optimising facility operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
We also provided:
- A highly detailed digital model of the hospital’s exterior at Level of Detail 4 (LOD4)
- Incorporated architectural, structural and MEP elements
- A full set of external elevation drawings
For those without specialised 3D software, we uploaded the model to an interactive viewer, allowing users to:
- Explore the site virtually
- Take precise measurements
- Analyse existing structures without requiring a physical visit
Integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM)
For this project, we created digital representations of the physical and functional characteristics of the buildings using BIM. These models integrate geometry, spatial relationships and detailed building information into a single, coherent system. BIM brings together organised data from various fields, creating a complete digital version of the project. By integrating BIM, we enhance predictive maintenance capabilities and enable efficient long-term planning for healthcare facilities.
Our team leveraged advanced 3D modelling technology to ensure that the Warneford Hospital’s historic facade is thoroughly documented, supporting ongoing conservation initiatives and long-term estate planning.
For a more detailed look at this project, including the cutting-edge technology used, read the CICES journal article written in collaboration with the Glanville team.
Working with Glanville
At Glanville we have over 50 years of experience providing engineering, design and surveying expertise to the construction industry. We are proud to work with diverse range of clients, including household names throughout the UK in the public and private sector.
For more information on our Geomatics services, visit our dedicated webpage or explore the 3D Studio here.
If you’ve got a project we can help with, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
