The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England published a 10 Year Capital Plan on 8 July 2026, with Minister of State Karin Smyth setting out long-term investment to rebuild NHS buildings, upgrade GP surgeries and bring more care closer to patients’ homes.
The plan applies across England and is supported by a health capital budget expected to reach £15 billion in 2029/30. It covers NHS buildings, equipment, technology, GP premises, neighbourhood health centres and the use of NHS land.
The government said almost 800 GP surgery upgrades have already been funded, helping practices create space for an estimated 9 million extra appointments. A further £200 million will support more GP surgery expansion and modernisation.
NHS Capital Plan Sets Out Long-Term Investment
The 10 Year Capital Plan sets out how the government intends to rebuild, renew and modernise NHS facilities after years of short-term capital funding. It is designed to support longer planning for buildings, equipment and technology across the health service.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the plan replaces stop-start investment with a longer-term approach for major projects. The capital budget for health is due to rise to £15 billion in 2029/30.
GP Surgery Upgrades Aim to Expand Access
Almost 800 GP surgery upgrades have already been funded across England. The government said those upgrades are helping practices create space for an estimated 9 million additional appointments.
A further £200 million will help more GP surgeries expand and modernise. The aim is to make it easier for patients to get appointments, receive care closer to home and reduce pressure on hospitals.
- Existing upgrades: Almost 800 GP surgery projects have been funded across England.
- Appointment capacity: The upgrades are expected to support around 9 million extra appointments.
- Further funding: £200 million will support additional GP premises expansion and modernisation.
GP Premises Investment
| Area | Measure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| GP upgrades | Nearly 800 | Funded across England |
| Extra appointments | Estimated 9 million | Linked to practice space |
| Further support | £200 million | For modernisation |
NHS Land Plan Includes Homes for Health Workers
The plan sets out how unused NHS land can be used to provide affordable homes for healthcare workers. The policy covers nurses, porters, healthcare assistants and other NHS staff.
The government said homes close to hospitals could reduce commuting time and support recruitment and retention. The measure is aimed at areas where housing costs make it harder for NHS staff to live near their workplace.
Hospital Repairs Target Ageing Buildings and Disruptions
The announcement says leaking roofs, broken heating systems, electrical faults and other building failures caused more than 4,100 disruptions to patient care last year. Those incidents included cancelled appointments and delayed treatment.
The government is investing at least £6.75 billion over the next nine years to repair hospitals, replace unsafe buildings and tackle the maintenance backlog. The funding is intended to reduce disruption caused by poor estate condition.
RAAC Programme
Hospitals affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete will be supported through a £2 billion programme. The government said the funding will remove RAAC and help keep patients and staff safe.
Neighbourhood Health Centres
The plan also confirms delivery of 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres. These centres will bring together GPs, diagnostic tests, community services and other care under one roof so patients can access more services closer to home.
Technology Investment Supports Modern NHS Services
The plan includes investment in technology across the NHS. Measures include improving the NHS App, introducing a Single Patient Record and replacing outdated systems.
The government said the Single Patient Record will help reduce the need for patients to repeat the same information across different parts of the health service. Replacing older systems is also intended to reduce paperwork for staff.
- NHS App: Improvements are included in the capital plan.
- Patient records: A Single Patient Record will support information sharing.
- Legacy systems: Older technology will be replaced across services.
Faster Approval Rules Aim to Speed Projects
The government is changing how NHS building projects are approved. Projects worth up to £300 million will be approved by the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS.
Projects will return to the Treasury only if costs rise above £1 billion or if their scope changes materially. The government said the changes will reduce red tape and help hospitals progress building and equipment projects sooner.
Project Approval Changes
| Project Area | Threshold | Approval Route |
|---|---|---|
| Standard projects | Up to £300 million | DHSC and NHS |
| Higher costs | Above £1 billion | Treasury return |
| Scope changes | Material change | Treasury return |
Local Control and Delivery Pipeline
Ownership of more NHS buildings and land will be transferred from NHS Property Services to local NHS organisations. The government said this will give local systems more control over how estates are managed and developed.
The plan is also intended to give construction firms and technology companies a clearer pipeline of future NHS projects. Ministers said this should support investment in people, skills and innovation while helping deliver better value for taxpayers.
Research, Biosecurity and Wider NHS Reform
The plan includes a £650 million investment in genomics over the next five years. It also supports cyber resilience, biosecurity and the new National Biosecurity Centre.
The government also linked the capital plan to wider NHS recovery measures, including extra funding, staff recruitment and expanded community care. It said waiting lists have fallen by more than 400,000 since July 2024 and GP access satisfaction has risen to 76%.
Stakeholder Comments
Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health said;
“NHS patients – and the brilliant staff who care for them – deserve modern buildings, reliable equipment and services fit for the future.”
“Our 10 Year Capital Plan backs that ambition with record investment and reforms that will help patients get faster appointments, better facilities, modern technology and more care closer to home for patients across the country.”
Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of The NHS Alliance said;
“Our members will welcome the government’s focus on long-term NHS capital investment. Multi-year funding, faster approvals and investment in GP premises and technology will help NHS leaders continue to plan more effectively, start to modernise facilities, further improve productivity and above all, enhance patient care.”
“Health service leaders will also be interested in the plans for new neighbourhood health centres and the use of new public-private partnership models. Capital investment across the NHS is vital to delivering the ambitions of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.”
The 10 Year Capital Plan sets out long-term capital funding and delivery changes for NHS buildings, GP premises, technology, land use and research capability. The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England said the plan is intended to support faster access to care, safer facilities, local service delivery and better long-term planning across the health service.
Sources: Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Karin Smyth MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
