NHS Pathology Hub Leases Croydon Warehouse; Croydon, 2026

Key Points

• The NHS pathology network has leased 18,444 sq ft of warehouse space across two units at SEGRO Park Redhouse Road in Croydon, south London
• The facility will serve as a state-of-the-art pathology hub with laboratory space for testing samples from approximately 400 doctor’s practices across Surrey, south London and south west London
• Four NHS trusts will occupy the space: St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, and Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
• The centralised facility aims to accelerate GP test sample turnaround times, with results returned to GPs “significantly faster than at present”
• SHW and joint agent Savills advised SEGRO on the lease transaction
• The scheme includes sustainability features: photovoltaic panels for lower carbon energy, electric vehicle charging points, and cycle shelters
• The facility will reduce pressure on existing hospital pathology labs, drive cost savings, and release space within the existing NHS estate
• SEGRO Park Croydon Redhouse Road is located 10 minutes from Croydon Town Centre and 10 miles from both Central London and the M25
• The development comprises seven BREEAM Excellent units with EPC A ratings
• Simon Brewer from South West London Pathology stated the space supports “more efficient laboratory operations, training opportunities and ultimately faster, more reliable results for both clinicians and patients”

Croydon (South London News) June 2, 2026 – The NHS pathology network covering south west London has signed a landmark lease agreement for 18,444 sq ft of warehouse space at SEGRO Park Redhouse Road in Croydon, marking a significant step in centralising pathology services across the region. As reported by SEGRO in their official press release dated May 11, 2026, the space comprises two combined units that will serve as a state-of-the-art pathology hub with laboratory space for testing samples collected from approximately 400 doctor’s practices across the Surrey, south and south west London region.

The facility will be occupied by a hospital network including St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust.

According to the SEGRO press release, the facility aims to centralise the testing processes for hospitals around the region, driving efficiency and enabling accelerated turnaround times for GP test samples, with results returned to GPs significantly faster than at present.

How Will Centralisation Affect Pathology Testing Efficiency Across South London?

As reported by BE News on May 28, 2026, the centralisation strategy will reduce pressure on existing hospital pathology labs, drive cost savings and ultimately release space within the existing NHS estate. This represents a strategic shift in how pathology services are organised across the south west London hospital network.

Simon Brewer from South West London Pathology stated:

“We are always focused on delivering high-quality care with the best outcomes, while using our resources efficiently and improving how services are organised. This space is a key part of how we are delivering this in south west London, supporting more efficient laboratory operations, training opportunities and ultimately faster, more reliable results for both clinicians and patients”.

The facility’s design specifically targets operational bottlenecks in the current pathology system. By consolidating testing processes from multiple hospital trusts into a single dedicated hub, the NHS pathology network expects to achieve measurable improvements in turnaround times while reducing duplication of resources across the four trusts.

What Sustainability Features Are Included in the New Pathology Hub?

The scheme incorporates a range of sustainability features that align with modern environmental standards. As detailed in the SEGRO press release, the facility includes photovoltaic panels on each unit to provide lower carbon energy and reduced energy costs. Additionally, the development features electric vehicle charging points and cycle shelters to support customers and their employees on their transition to make more sustainability journeys.

SEGRO Park Croydon Redhouse Road comprises seven high quality, BREEAM Excellent units with EPC A ratings, representing some of the most energy-efficient industrial space in south London. The property is located just 10 minutes from Croydon Town Centre and ten miles from both Central London to the North and the M25 to the South, providing excellent accessibility and transport options across the region.

What Did SEGRO Leadership Say About the Lease Agreement?

Alex Keith, Director, London at SEGRO, provided extensive commentary on the significance of the lease. As reported by SEGRO, Keith stated:

“SEGRO’s purpose is to create the space that enables extraordinary things to happen and this is an absolute exemplar of this in action. This new state-of-the-art facility serving the wider South London area will enable significant operational efficiency and cost savings for the various NHS trusts through the centralisation of critically important pathology services”.

Keith continued:

“Whether reducing pressure on existing laboratories, increasing testing volumes, accelerating turnaround times or driving down cost per test, this is fantastic example of the versatility and positive benefits that well located, sustainable modern warehouses like SEGRO Park Redhouse Road can deliver”.

How Does This Lease Fit Into Broader Demand for South London Industrial Space?

The lease follows a recent agreement with a leading wholesale and retail grocer, further highlighting the continued strong demand from a diverse occupier base for high-quality, well-connected workspace in a prime south London location. As reported by Robert Bradley-Smith from SHW, which is joint agent at the park alongside Savills:

“The letting follows on from the recent completion of Unit 1 a 30,000 sq ft unit to a leading wholesale and retail grocer, further highlighting the continued strong demand from a diverse occupier base for high quality, well-connected workspace in a prime south London location”.

Bradley-Smith added that only two units remain available: Unit 2, comprising 83,927 sq ft and Unit 3.3 offering 10,207 sq ft. SHW and joint agent Savills advised SEGRO on the transaction, demonstrating the competitive nature of prime south London industrial space.

Which NHS Trusts Will Benefit from the New Pathology Hub?

The four NHS trusts occupying the facility represent a significant portion of south west London’s hospital capacity. St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves as a major teaching hospital in Tooting, south London.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust operates hospitals in Epsom and Carshalton. Croydon Health Services NHS Trust manages Croydon University Hospital, while Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust provides services across Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames.

Together, these trusts serve a population of approximately 1.5 million people across south west London and parts of Surrey.

The pathology hub will process samples from around 400 GP practices serving this population, centralising testing that was previously分散 across multiple hospital laboratories.

What Is the Historical Context of Pathology Service Integration in South West London?

The four hospital trusts in south west London have a history of collaboration on pathology services. As reported in a 2013 St George’s NHS news item, the chief executives of each of the four hospital trusts announced plans to join forces to develop a single pathology service for south west London. This new warehouse lease represents the latest phase in that long-term integration strategy, moving from planning to physical infrastructure development.

South West London Pathology (SWLP) is described as an award-winning NHS pathology partnership covering south west London and beyond, set up by St George’s and the other three trusts. The new facility provides the physical infrastructure needed to operationalise this partnership at scale.

Background: The Development of South West London Pathology Integration

The pathology network lease represents the culmination of over a decade of planning for integrated pathology services in south west London.

The partnership was formally announced in September 2013 when the chief executives of St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, and Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust released a joint statement announcing plans to develop a single pathology service.

South West London Pathology (SWLP) was established as an award-winning NHS pathology partnership covering south west London and beyond.

The partnership’s business development team can be contacted via email at swlpbusinessdevelopment@stgeorges.nhs.uk for organisations interested in partnering with SWLP to deliver services.

The 2026 lease at SEGRO Park Redhouse Road marks the first major infrastructure investment in dedicated pathology hub space for the partnership.

The 18,444 sq ft facility represents a significant capital investment in centralised laboratory infrastructure that will serve approximately 400 GP practices across Surrey, south London and south west London.

SEGRO, founded in 1920, is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, with a portfolio of 10.9 million square metres of space valued at £22.0 billion.

The company owns, manages and develops modern warehousing, industrial property and data centres across the UK and seven other European countries.

Explore More Croydon News

Croydon Nanny Wins £71,000 Porsche in BOTB Competition | Croydon 2026

Met says Croydon facial recognition pilot cut crime, but privacy concerns remain

Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Patients, GPs, and NHS Staff in South West London?

Patients across south west London and Surrey can expect faster diagnosis times as a direct result of the centralised pathology hub. As Simon Brewer from South West London Pathology stated, the facility will deliver “faster, more reliable results for both clinicians and patients”.

The accelerated turnaround times for GP test samples mean patients will receive diagnosis results sooner, potentially reducing anxiety and enabling quicker treatment initiation.

The centralisation will also improve consistency of testing quality across the region, as all samples from the 400 participating GP practices will be processed in a single state-of-the-art facility rather than across multiple hospital laboratories with varying equipment and procedures.

Impact on General Practitioners

GPs across Surrey, south London and south west London will experience significantly faster return of test results compared to current turnaround times, as explicitly stated in the SEGRO press release.

This improvement will enable GPs to make clinical decisions more quickly, reduce follow-up appointment delays, and improve overall patient flow in primary care.

The centralised system will also simplify the testing process for GPs, as all samples will follow a single pathway to one facility rather than being sent to different hospital laboratories depending on the patient’s registered trust.

Impact on NHS Trusts and Hospital Staff

The four NHS trusts will achieve significant operational efficiency and cost savings through centralisation, as Alex Keith from SEGRO noted. The facility will reduce pressure on existing hospital pathology labs, allowing those labs to focus on more complex hospital-based testing rather than routine GP sample processing.

The cost savings from centralisation will drive down the cost per test, as Keith stated. Additionally, the facility will release space within the existing NHS estate, as the new hub takes over routine testing functions from hospital-based laboratories.

For pathology staff, the hub will create training opportunities within a modern, purpose-built facility, as Simon Brewer mentioned. The EPC A-rated, BREEAM Excellent building will provide a state-of-the-art working environment with lower carbon energy from photovoltaic panels and reduced energy costs.