With the NHS moving to an online–based service from 2027, private sector investment has been announced for establishing Community Diagnostic Centres through re-developing existing buildings and new developments. This article explains what a Community Diagnostic Centre is, funding available for developers and the planning and design requirements.
It was announced on 29 September 2025 that NHS Online will be rolled out in 2027. This innovative plan to digitally connect patients to expert clinicians anywhere in the country aims to reduce wait times, take pressure off hospitals and allow patients to book scans and tests at Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) closer to home.
There are currently around 100 CDCs open 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The move to NHS Online will need the support of further CDCs, which is reflected in the UK Infrastructure 10 Year Strategy and national investment has already been planned through Health Education England to help facilitate the development of CDCs.
CDCs are part of the government’s plan to move care into local communities, providing essential diagnostic testing in ‘one stop shops’. There are currently three models of CDC:
The standard model – CDCs providing minimum diagnostic tests on one permanent site with some providing other tests that are a priority locally.
The large model – CDCs building on the standard model but also offering endoscopy and other services and tests. These centres are larger and have multiple scanners.
The hub and spoke model – CDCs consisting of a standard or large model central hub facilitated by ‘spokes’ in community health care settings, commercial settings or other non-acute health care provider settings.
Spoke sites will be designed to meet specific service needs such as reaching certain populations or increasing local capacity for specific tests and are not subject to the nationally set minimum diagnostic test requirements. Spoke sites can be located on independent sector or commercial sites as well as existing NHS sites, other than acute sites.
In 2021, £2.3 billion of capital funding was made available to bids from providers, groups of providers or systems for three years. Thus far the limited funding pool, tight time-frames and strict design criteria have resulted in most CDCs being developed in pre-existing buildings or as attachments to existing structures. Applications for large new build projects have been unlikely to be considered, unless it could be shown that this approach was the only viable approach to increasing diagnostic capacity and addressing health inequalities.
Department of Health and Social Care announced on 11 November 2025 that integrated care boards will be the strategic commissioners responsible for shifting the NHS to a neighbourhood health service, and that funding for CDC activity is included in integrated care boards core programme allocations. This announcement also reiterated that the chancellor has secured a £29 billion boost to get the NHS fit for the future, with up to £10 billion allocated towards technology and digital transformation.
The 10 Year Structure for UK Infrastructure promises the government will explore the potential for community health infrastructure to be delivered by public private partnerships, and the potential for new private sector investment was confirmed by the chancellor on 24 November 2025 and announced in the Autumn Budget 2025.
This focus on infrastructure is promising for those looking to build new premises for CDCs in areas where existing facilities cannot be modified, particularly in areas with high need for such infrastructure. Repurposing empty office buildings or other commercial spaces as CDCs also offers long term opportunity as well as publicly benefitting the community.
Guidance on the planning and design of CDCs has dictated that the location of CDC should be easily accessible 12–14 hours a day, seven days a week in places with good public transport links and sufficient car parking. All CDC buildings must meet applicable standards and contribute to the NHS Net Zero Agenda. Local population need and demands should be reflected and equitable access ensured to reduce health inequalities.
Though these requirements may seem daunting, the Strategic Health Asset Planning and Evaluation (SHAPE) Place Atlas, maintained by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, supports the planning of services and assets in the public sector and can be utilised to support decision making.
Community Diagnostic Centres offer a spectrum of development opportunity, whether investors are interested in the re-development of existing buildings or building from the ground up. Developments can be built upon, with standard model CDCs capable of being expanded into larger or hub and spoke model CDCs, and will be required across the county.
Our specialist planning lawyers deal with all aspects of the development process, advising and supporting businesses, local authorities and individuals, and our experienced real estate team can offer clear, responsive and commercially focused advice on real estate investments from acquisition to management and disposal. For further support on your CDC development ambitions, please contact our real estate or planning teams.
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