Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust has announced the start of construction work on its new mental health facility in Highgate.
The new facility will replace the ageing St Pancras Hospital buildings and will house five wards across four floors, with single en-suite bedrooms, dedicated therapy spaces, landscaped areas, and a boulevard that opens onto the street with a public café.
It has been developed as part of the St Pancras Transformation Programme and stakeholders have been involved in the design from the beginning.
Malcolm McFrederick, St Pancras Transformation Programme director, said: “Our new building has been designed to fully support recovery and wellbeing in a modern, therapeutic and non-stigmatising setting.
“It will offer single, en-suite rooms for all, access to outdoor space from each ward, and other spaces to support our service users during their hospital stay – such as activity space and a family visiting room.”
Akin Durowoju, project director at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, added: “The new building tackles many of the challenges we currently face at St Pancras Hospital.
“This includes important issues such as accessibility and sustainability.
“The new building will be fully wheelchair accessible, environmentally friendly, and sustainable.”
“From solar panels, green walls and brown roofs to support eco-diversity, we are taking the opportunity to do everything we can to become a greener NHS and protect our climate.”
The hospital has been designed by Ryder Architecture and will be built by BAM Construction.
Landscaping and a boulevard will help to destigmatise mental health and improve the patient and staff experience