Case Study
Herne Bay Manor

70-Bed Care Home for Dunham Care, Herne Bay, Kent (2024)

Main Contractor: McGoff Construction Limited
Specialist Contractor: Panacea Buildings Systems

Project Overview

McGoff Construction appointed Panacea Building Systems to deliver the structural solution for a new 70-bed care home in Herne Bay, Kent. This scheme presented a number of unique technical and logistical challenges, most notably the requirement to retain the existing building façade as part of the planning conditions.

At the heart of our delivery is Panacea’s LGSF offsite solution—a modern, high-precision construction method designed to accelerate build programmes, enhance quality and minimise onsite disruption. By manufacturing key components in a controlled factory environment, our system combines light gauge steel frames, hot-rolled steelwork, metal decking, reinforced in-situ concrete floors/roofs and prefabricated steel staircases, all tailored to meet project-specific requirements. We also integrate a full suite of external wall elements engineered to achieve the desired aesthetic, thermal and fire-performance outcomes.

This approach enables clients to benefit from a faster, more predictable and higher-quality build, making it ideally suited to healthcare environments where programme certainty, safety and structural efficiency are paramount.

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Scope of Works

Panacea Building Systems delivered a highly tailored solution combining both offsite-manufactured and traditional construction elements:

  • Hybrid structure comprising:

  • Metframe pre-panelised LGSF system

  • Traditional hot-rolled steel frame elements to reinforce and integrate the retained façade

  • Timber trussed roof

  • Complete LGSF Metframe installation delivered in an 11-week period

  • Offsite fabrication of bespoke LGSF panels at Panacea Building Systems specialist facility in Altrincham, Greater Manchester

  • Planned just-in-time delivery to overcome restricted site logistics and very limited laydown areas

  • “Herne Bay posed a unique challenge because the existing façade needed to be preserved. Panacea, collaborating with voestalpine Metsec plc, promptly grasped the project requirements, devised an effective solution, fabricated the frame offsite, and completed the installation of the structural frame within 11 weeks, all while demonstrating exceptional professionalism.”

    — Testimonial from Jon Bishop, Operations Director - McGoff Construction