Cheshire College students help shape sustainable travel plans for Leighton Hospital

Students from Cheshire College – South & West have been working alongside leading construction, design and healthcare professionals to explore how sustainable travel can shape the future of Leighton Hospital.

Eleven T Level Design, Surveying and Planning students took part in an industry-led Active Travel in Hospital Design workshop, gaining insight into how hospitals can be designed to support safe, practical and environmentally responsible travel for staff, patients and visitors.

The project brought together a range of industry partners involved in the Leighton Hospital redevelopment, including professionals from Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust CBRE, Arcadis, T&T, Akerlof, Gleeds and Ryder Architecture, offering perspectives across architecture, surveying, project management and healthcare planning.

Helen Nellist, Deputy Principal and Deputy CEO of Cheshire College, commented on the collaboration: “This experience allowed our students to see how construction, sustainability and healthcare design come together in practice, while building the skills they need for their future careers. Working on a project connected to their local hospital made the learning especially meaningful.”

James Whittall, the Trust’s Sustainability, Energy and Social Value Lead, added: “The standard of the students’ active travel proposals from Cheshire College was exceptional and genuinely impressed the MCHFT Healthier Futures team.

“Their ideas show how thoughtful, costed design can make the new Leighton Hospital healthier and more accessible from day one, for everyone.”

For students, the opportunity to explore a live project brought theory to life.

Liliana Chmielowska said:“Seeing a large-scale project like Leighton Hospital up close helped me understand what the industry is really like and the range of roles involved. Having professionals take the time to work with us was an amazing opportunity.”

The workshop also gave learners the chance to develop and present their own ideas for improving hospital design through active travel.

Aldridge Nhenderere added: “Visiting the site and learning about roles such as quantity surveying and project management made it all make sense. It’s given me a much clearer understanding of how the construction industry works.”

The workshop underlines Cheshire College – South & West’s commitment to employer-led education, connecting students with live projects, supporting local regeneration, and preparing the next generation for careers in construction, design and the built environment.