High-quality and easily accessible health facilities are now available in Hull city centre after a brand new state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) was opened.
Patients in Hull and the East Riding requiring diagnostic testing can now opt to attend the facility on Albion Street which was constructed in an impressive 15 months by Hull City Council’s contractors VINCI Building Ltd.
The CDC, a collaborative partnership between the council, Hull University Teaching Hospital (HUTH) and NHS England, will offer up to 150,000 additional appointments annually, relieving the strain on acute hospitals whilst it has also created around 100 local jobs.
Staffed by expert clinicians, the centre offers a range of diagnostic tests, helping to detect serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease and respiratory conditions and also features a range of services including MRI, X-ray, CT scanning and ultrasounds.
The CDC is part of the council’s wider Albion Square regeneration programme and the increased footfall in the area is expected to provide economic boosts to Hull city centre.
Cllr Mike Ross, leader of the council, said: “It was a pleasure to be able to have a look around this fantastic new facility which was completed on time and on budget, the result of a brilliant collaborative partnership between the council, HUTH and NHS England.
“The Community Diagnostic Centre will bring significant health and wellbeing benefits to our residents and visitors to the city for many years to come.
“Having seen the positive economic impact similar facilities have had in other towns and cities across the country, we look forward to the additional footfall contributing to our wider city centre economy.”
Part of the official opening saw the reburial of a time capsule originally discovered when construction works began on the CDC last year.
A new time capsule was buried as part of the opening event that included artefacts, coins, a commemorative image and a scroll identifying attendees of the original museum foundation stone laying 17 May 1853.
It was reburied containing items from today and included:
- A booklet on the CDC
- King Charles III coins
- Old Town and City Guide
- Info on the Royal Institution, scroll and coins that were found in the original time capsule
- Info on the development of the CDC
- Hull City Centre Vision
- NHS Leaflet on MRI Scanner
- The Hull Story September 2025 edition
- Hull Kingston Rovers 2025 Challenge Cup Winners – social media post
The items found in the original capsule are now on display in Hull History Centre.
Cllr Ross added: “I was delighted to be asked to bury the time capsule, an unexpected discovery during the excavation phase of the development.
“It was fascinating to see the original artefacts found and it’s great that we’re able to give the people of the future an insight into Hull in 2025.”
Those entering the CDC are welcomed by the historic Alan Boyson ‘Sponge Mural’, which is located within its reception area.
The mural has undergone significant restoration and, of its original 658 tiles, 277 have been successfully salvaged from the former BHS building.
The council and VINCI Building Ltd worked closely with experts to replicate the damaged tiles, ensuring the mural matches its initial design.
Installed between 1961 and 1963 within the Skyline Pantry restaurant and ballroom of the old BHS building, the Sponge Mural was once only visible to patrons on the fourth floor, but is now meticulously restored to its former glory.
