Start on site for Kingsley Green

Building work on a new £42m state-of-the-art mental health and learning disabilities centre for Hertfordshire at Kingsley Green, near Radlett, has started on site. Family-owned contractor, civil engineering and property services company Osborne is the main contractor.

Tom Cahill, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (HPFT) Chief Executive, turned the first turf at Kingsley Green near Radlett, helped by Hattie Llewellyn-Davies, HPFT’s Chair, and Andrew Osborne, Chairman of Osborne.

The centre, designed as a therapeutic environment for adults experiencing a mental health crisis, will have en-suite single bedrooms for everyone who stays there – 86 rooms in total. There will be courtyard gardens for active recreation and quiet reflection, a shop and cafe, as well as treatment and therapy areas.

The building, which reflects international best practice, has been designed with the input of service users and carers to provide a supportive and recovery focused environment. It will have lounges and quiet spaces where service users can relax, make themselves snacks and drinks, and meet visitors.

Andrew Osborne, Chairman of Osborne, said: “As a Deputy for my sister under the Mental Capacity Act I am well aware that mental health is largely neglected by society despite the impact it has on so many of us. It deserves so much better, which is why this start on site is such an exciting event.”

“It is also very significant milestone in the journey we have travelled with Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. We have worked together since 2007 with the Psychiatric Intensive Care unit and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services unit as well. The consistency of this approach and the teamwork involved has meant that we have been able to build strong bonds of mutual understanding, trust and common goals and work together as a true partnership.”

“A huge amount of work has gone into getting us to this point. We can now take the next step towards making the vision a reality and help deliver a better facility that will make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of service users and their carers.”

Innovare Systems is providing large format structural insulated panels (i-SIPs) to speed up installation time and improve airtightness and thermal bridging.

The first phase of the building is expected to be complete by summer 2014.