Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care visits new Velindre Cancer Centre site to witness major progress on flagship project
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles MS, visited the construction site of the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) - one of the most significant infrastructure and healthcare investments Wales has seen in decades.
The project, which is on track to welcome its first patients in Spring 2027, will ensure that people affected by cancer in south Wales continue to receive outstanding care for generations to come.
During the visit the Cabinet Secretary met with Velindre University NHS Trust leaders, clinicians and construction partners from the Acorn consortium and Sacyr UK. He was shown the significant construction progress and heard about the lasting clinical, environmental, workforce and community benefits the new centre will deliver.
Speaking of the new Velindre Cancer Centre, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles MS, said: “The development of the new Velindre Cancer Centre marks a transformative step forward in cancer care for Wales.
“It will provide world-class care and support to patients and their families across south east Wales, with cutting-edge facilities designed to meet the growing needs of modern cancer treatment
“As we move into the next phase of construction, the progress will become even more visible and we are on track to deliver a facility that Wales can be proud of.”
Chair of Velindre University NHS Trust, Donna Mead OBE, said: “It was a privilege to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to the site of our future home.
“Our new Velindre Cancer Centre is much more than a building - it will give our patients, families and staff a space that supports care, recovery and research at the highest level.
“This is about delivering the very best cancer care, built on decades of expertise, compassion and commitment. We are immensely proud of the progress being made and of the partnerships that have brought us to this point.”
The current Velindre Cancer Centre, fast approaching 70 years old, no longer has the space, layout or facilities needed to deliver modern, innovative cancer care at the pace and scale required. In Wales, the number of people diagnosed with cancer is increasing every year - and more people are living longer with, and beyond, cancer. Cancer care is becoming more complex and putting even greater pressure on specialist services.
Our new cancer centre will improve every stage of the patient journey - from a more intuitive building layout that reduces waiting and anxiety, to better links between treatment areas that enable faster, more seamless care.
A dedicated radiotherapy research bunker will increase access to clinical trials and cutting-edge therapies, helping improve outcomes. The site will offer more than 600 parking spaces, enhanced public transport links, and welcoming, therapeutic spaces that connect people with nature.
Chief Executive of Velindre University NHS Trust David Donegan said: “This visit was a chance to show how we are turning our groundbreaking vision into reality.
“Our new cancer centre is being built with purpose – to provide outstanding cancer care in the kind of environment our patients, their families and our staff deserve.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a world-class cancer centre for Wales – and we’re proud to be delivering it in partnership with NHS colleagues, Welsh Government and our communities across the region.”
The nVCC is designed with the future in mind. The centre includes flexible clinical spaces and built-in capacity to expand chemotherapy, radiotherapy and diagnostic services allowing the Trust to respond to rising demand for years to come.
The centre will also be one of the most sustainable hospitals in the UK. It will be fully electric from day one and is being constructed using locally sourced low-carbon materials where possible.
The new Velindre Cancer Centre is being delivered by the Acorn consortium, which includes Sacyr UK, Kajima Partnerships, abrdn, the Development Bank of Wales, and a range of long-term funders. Construction is being led by Sacyr UK.