Hospital starts construction of secure unit
Expected to be one of the top facilities of its kind once operational, the new autism secure unit at Brooklands Hospital in Marston Green, Birmingham, is now under construction at the hands of national contractor Willmott Dixon.
The £7m project commissioned by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust includes the demolition of an existing building on the hospital site and the construction of a single-storey building.
The facility will provide eight ensuite bedrooms, one of which provides a seclusion suite.
Willmott Dixon is part of a project team that includes architect Design Buro.
Dan Doyle, operations director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Being a business with rich Birmingham heritage, it’s an honour to be playing a significant role in a local project that will enrich the community’s healthcare offering.
“The completion of the new building will enable Brooklands Hospital to provide a high-level service to its future patients in an environment that accommodates their specific needs, which is something we’re an expert in and are pleased to have been brought in to deliver.”
Nick Gibb, deputy managing director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’re pleased to get started on site at Brooklands Hospital and contributing to what will be a cutting-edge facility. There are important standards to meet when developing units of this kind and handing over an appropriate low stimulus environment is vital for patient wellbeing. We like to remind ourselves and our clients that planning for an end-user’s experience begins well before they step through the door, which offers another motivation to create the best new building possible.”
The project includes external considerations including an anti-climb roof and four-meter perimeter fencing, while the internal design elements incorporate high-quality ventilation and anti-ligature lighting.
Work is set to be completed by March 2023.
