Brighton 3Ts Hospital

Brighton

Public Sector

1 year

£1m

Project Highlights:

Successful Collaboration with a Tier 1 Contractor – Delivered approximately 20,000m² of premium flooring as part of our debut installation with a Tier 1 contractor on a flagship healthcare redevelopment.
Precision and Compliance – Expertly managed vinyl welding, capping, undercutting at doorways for fire regulation compliance, and installation of transition strips, movement joints, and stainless-steel trims.
Complex Programme Management – Coordinated multiple trades, international material deliveries, and rigorous health and safety protocols to complete the project on schedule, maintaining a safe environment for staff, patients, and visitors.

The Challenge:

The Brighton Trauma, Tertiary and Teaching (3Ts) redevelopment at the Royal Sussex County site is a flagship project, transforming the hospital with two brand-new clinical buildings, a service yard, and improved access to other parts of the hospital via the Louisa Martingdale Building. The scale of the project is immense, and it has been split into multiple phases. Stage 2 of the redevelopment occupies the site of the oldest NHS ward building in England, originally opened in 1828 – twenty years before Florence Nightingale began nursing.

Veatu’s involvement marked our debut installation with a Tier 1 contractor on a project where more than 100,000 patients are treated annually, covering a total floor area of around 20,000m². The floor preparation itself presented significant challenges: grinding with STR machines and copper discs had to be completed with full dust extraction to maintain a clean, safe, and operational hospital environment.

The project required installation of a wide variety of high-specification finishes, with some products sourced internationally, with Tarkett materials shipped from Europe and ShawContract carpet tiles air freighted from the U.S.

Additional complexities included welding all vinyl joins with co-ordinated weld coils and hot weld guns, installing various transition strips, including high-end stainless steel, diminishing strips, and movement joints between floor finishes. Compliance with fire regulations required precise undercutting at doorways so finishes could be installed underneath.

With such a wide range of materials, international sourcing, and exacting standards, the challenge was to deliver a flawless, high-quality finish on time and safely within an operational hospital environment.

The Solution:

To deliver on such a complex and high-profile project, Veatu implemented robust organisational and programme management systems from the outset. A clear schedule was established in collaboration with all key stakeholders, ensuring coordination with multiple trades and smooth progression of works across the site.

Strict health and safety protocols were followed throughout the project. Floor preparation involved grinding with STR machines and copper discs, supported by full dust extraction to maintain a clean and safe environment for staff, patients, and visitors. Ardex feather finish, A45, Ardex P51 primer, and Mapei Renovation latex were applied to ensure a flawless subfloor ready for high-spec finishes.

All vinyl joins were welded with co-ordinated weld coils using hot weld guns, while vinyl areas in wet rooms were finished with cove former and 100mm upstand capping. Transition strips, including high-end stainless steel, diminishing strips, and movement joints, were carefully installed between different floor finishes. To comply with fire regulations, doorways were undercut precisely, allowing finishes to run seamlessly underneath.

The Results:

Through meticulous planning, expert installation, and rigorous safety protocols, Veatu delivered a high-quality, durable, and visually striking floor finish across the 3Ts redevelopment, meeting the demanding standards of a world-class teaching hospital. The project demonstrated our ability to manage large-scale, multi-trade programmes while maintaining strict health and safety protocols.

The high-quality installation included a mix of engineered parquet, premium vinyls, and carpet tiles, with precision welding, capping, and transition detailing, creating durable, hygienic, and visually appealing floors throughout the clinical buildings. The careful planning and coordination required for international materials sourcing, such as Tarkett vinyl from Europe and ShawContract carpet tiles from the U.S., ensured the programme remained on track.

Beyond meeting technical and aesthetic standards, the project strengthened our relationship with the Tier 1 contractor and positioned Veatu as a trusted partner for complex healthcare environments. The floors now provide safe, comfortable, and durable surfaces for staff, patients, and visitors, supporting the functionality of a flagship teaching hospital treating over 100,000 patients annually.