Further Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (UMF) investment for GP practices

The UMF aims to enhance the use of existing GP surgery premises, expand capacity for GPs and enable additional patient appointments. Last year the UMF fund was set at £102million and it has supported over 790 GP practices in refurbishing and improving their premises.

In contrast to last year's funding pot, which was restricted to the 25/26 financial year, it is hoped that more practices will be able to capitalise on the funding going forward through the implementation of a multi-year allocation.

You can read the full 10-Year Capital Plan here 10 Year Capital Plan for Health and Social Care - GOV.UK.

You have secured allocation of UMF Funding. What next?

Access to UMF grant funding is not guaranteed until you enter into a Grant Agreement.

The type of Grant Agreement you will need to enter into depends on the nature of your property interest (freehold or leasehold) and the amount of grant funding being provided.

It is important your practice obtains legal advice to understand your obligations and liabilities under both the Grant Agreement and the associated the NHS (General Medical Services Premises Costs) Directions 2024 (Directions).

Often, the UMF Grant Agreements include additional obligations on the Practice, which can include a Legal Charge over your property, which will need the approval of any existing bank who has security in place, a certificate on title to be prepared for NHS England by your solicitor and potentially warranties from your contractor and professional team where works being carried out are substantial.

Where premises are leasehold, you will also need to consider if Landlord's consent is required for the works and the Legal Charge, if your lease actually allows you to charge it and ensure that the remaining lease term is long enough to cover the appropriate minimum period of use required under the Directions for the level of grant provided.

We encourage practices to engage with their solicitor as soon as possible to understand what additional property paperwork is required, as it can take some time to finalise.

Why choose VWV?

Last year we supported a number of practices with their UMF Grant Agreement arrangements and worked closely with NHS England's solicitors to understand their requirements and streamline the process for practices.

Our team combines legal expertise with a deep understanding of the healthcare sector, particularly the unique challenges faced by GP practices. We pride ourselves on providing practical, client-focused advice that is clear, concise, and tailored to your needs and working collaboratively with other solicitors to get the deal over the line.

For more information or advice, or if you need assistance with UMF Grant agreements, please contact Kirsten Brown in our Healthcare team.