Future designs for Moorfields' site revealed

The latest designs for a new, purpose-built centre for eye care, research and education at St Pancras Hospital in Camden have been unveiled.

Oriel, a joint initiative between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (IoO) and Moorfields Eye Charity, would see Moorfields’ and UCL IoO services move from Islington to a purpose-built centre in Camden’s Knowledge Quarter.

A programme of public consultation is currently under way so that the views of members of the local community in Camden, Moorfields and UCL staff, patients, carers and representatives of those with sight loss shape the development of the proposed design. A planning application is due to be submitted to Camden Council this autumn.

The designs for the centre are on display for the first time to coincide with National Eye Health Week. Chief executive of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, David Probert, said: “Sight loss is an increasing reality for many of us and this week is an ideal time to get people thinking about healthy vision. We really want to hear about what matters most in the provision of eye care alongside the delivery of a world-class research facility.”

Dean of the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, Professor Alan Thompson, added that the project is “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to shape the future of eye health, research and education.

“We’re looking forward to hearing what people think of our proposals so that we design and build a centre that caters for all our users as well as making a positive contribution to the local community in Camden. The location of the proposed new building is ideally suited to facilitating collaboration with London’s knowledge-based cultural and scientific businesses. As we prepare to submit our planning application, our focus is on making sure we deliver a centre that is accessible, flexible and enables us to undertake ground-breaking research that will translate into real benefit for patients,” Professor Thompson said.

In December 2018, Moorfields secured nearly £20 million of funding as part of the Department of Health and Social Care’s major investment in the long-term future of the NHS. If planning permission is approved, it is estimated that the new centre will be open to patients in 2025-26.