An incredible one million cubic metres of earth will be moved as land is levelled off to provide a platform for the new University Hospital Monklands, set to open at Wester Moffat in Airdrie in 2031.

The preparatory earthworks for NHS Lanarkshire’s Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) do not mark the start of hospital construction, which can’t begin until the Scottish Government has approved the final business case that is now being developed.

Martin Hill, chair of the board of NHS Lanarkshire, Colin Lauder, NHS Lanarkshire interim chief executive and MRP director Graeme Reid were joined at Wester Moffat by Andy Thomson, project director at MRP construction partner Laing O’Rourke, and colleagues to see the work begin this week.

Martin said: “It’s inspiring to stand on the site and envisage our state-of-the art digital and net zero hospital rising from the land that is now being prepared.

“The scale of this enormous infrastructure project for Scotland is clear when you consider that we need to move hundreds of thousands of tonnes of soil to create a 77-acre platform for the hospital and its campus.

“This will be a hospital for all of Lanarkshire – with an innovative model of care designed to meet the health needs of our communities in the 2030s and beyond, including the growing number of older people.”

Colin Lauder added: “These groundworks mark yet another key stage in our journey to a new hospital.

“Some areas of the land will be reduced in level by 19 metres and others will be increased by 15 metres. All of the earth that we move will be used on site.

“As well as undertaking the earthworks, Laing O’Rourke will build a route for construction traffic to access the site, and will also carry out ground remediation to address old mine workings that are mostly located along the embankments of the North Calder Water river.

“The MRP is committed to being a good neighbour as this activity is undertaken during weekdays and Saturday mornings. As heavy machinery operates and trucks arrive and leave, Laing O’Rourke will take steps to minimise noise and dust.

“We expect these ‘enabling works’ to continue well into next year. Eventually they will run alongside the start of foundation works for construction of the hospital, depending on approval of the MRP’s Full Business Case, which is being prepared for submission at the end of this year.”