The existing heating boilers were over 40 years old and at the end of their operational life, and the steam distribution system required upgrading to improve reliability. The Trust also had service expansion plans and the existing boilerhouse needed modification to enable the location of a mortuary and estates department.

The Trust signed a 15 year contract to provide modern combined heat and power plant to supply environmentally generated heating and electricity to the hospital. Included in the contract was a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) investment of £1.8million to completely refurbish the existing boilerhouse. By using funding through the PFI scheme they will be able to focus their capital budget on patient care and gain climate change levy exemption through the use of CHP. 

To provide heating, hot water and electricity to Christie Hospital the existing heating boilers were replaced by a modern gas-fired 1.4MegaWatt combined heat and power unit coupled to a waste heat boiler and two 4.5 tonne per hour gas fired boilers. Other changes included a new arterial steam main, and refurbished pipework and flues.