The new facilities will consist of three separate buildings. These are:

* a 95,383 sq m Acute Hospital, which will include 612 in-patient beds and 22 operating theatres and a multi-storey car park with 908 spaces;
*a 9,043 sq m Mental Health Unit which will accommodate 102 beds; and
*a 9,265 sq m Integrated Care Centre which will provide 34 beds.

The project is one of the largest UK Private Finance Initiative (PFI) programmes to be undertaken within the NHS and will provide the three NHS Trusts of Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Trust and North Peterborough Primary Care Trust, with modern health care facilities designed to meet a wide range of health needs.

The new hospitals will replace both the Edith Cavell Hospital and the Peterborough District Hospital and are a key part of the Strategic Health Authority plan for the East of England.

James Tuckey, chairman of Multiplex UK said: "I am delighted that after more than two years of collaboration with the Trusts on the detailed development and planning of this important project, Multiplex will shortly commence construction of these new facilities for the people of Peterborough."

Construction is scheduled to commence in early July, with completion due in late 2010.