Construction of the brand‑new Pitsea Community Diagnostic Centre has reached an exciting milestone, as the installation of the modular buildings gets underway. Over the next six weeks 159 units will be craned into position and installed, giving the first real sense of the scale and shape of this major new community development.
Due to open in summer 2027, the centre will bring a wide range of essential health tests and checks together in one convenient location. Patients will be able to access MRI scans, endoscopy services, x-ray, ultrasound, heart and lung checks and blood tests – making it quicker and easier to get the care they need, closer to home.
Open seven days a week, the CDC is expected to deliver around 120,000 additional appointments every year, helping reduce waiting times, speed up diagnoses and ease pressure on hospitals across mid and south Essex.
Alongside its diagnostic services, the new building will also be home to a wider wellbeing centre. The activity centre will be brought back into the heart of Pitsea, and create a dedicated space for community groups, as well as providing a brand‑new library for everyone to enjoy.
Natasha Kerrigan, Chief Estates and Infrastructure Officer for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Seeing the modular units arrive on site is a huge moment. Once open, the centre will make it faster and easier for people to access vital tests at a time that’s convenient for them and without long journeys. We can already see then benefits that our Thurrock and Southend centres are bringing to the local community and we know this will be another step forward for our patients.”
The programme has been a beacon of partnership working with Essex County Council, Basildon Council and the NHS to bring to life the largest CDC and wellbeing centre for Essex.
Grant Taylor, Assistant Director Community and Leisure, Basildon Borough Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see such visible progress on this important project for Pitsea and the wider community. Reaching this stage in the development of the new Community Diagnostic Centre and wellbeing hub is a significant milestone, and the installation of the modular units brings the vision to life in a way residents can now clearly see.
“As the centre continues to take shape over the coming weeks, it reflects our shared commitment to investing in modern, high-quality facilities that improve access to healthcare, support wellbeing and strengthen community connections for local people.”
David Hartley, Managing Director, MTX commented: “This latest phase of construction marks a significant milestone for Pitsea and the wider Essex community. Our hybrid Modern Methods of Construction approach is enabling us to deliver high-quality, compliant healthcare facilities in the shortest possible timescale, to help the Trust bring these vital diagnostic services into operation sooner. We’re looking forward to seeing modern, accessible facility support patients, staff and the wider community for many years to come.”
Pitsea CDC is one of four new diagnostic centres being developed across mid and south Essex. Centres in Thurrock and Southend are already open, with Braintree CDC expected to open later this year.
