Roseberry Park

The new 365-bed hospital has propelled the service into the modern era, offering spacious and bright accommodation to suit the needs of its diverse users, from children with learning disabilities to older people experiencing mental health issues. A new emphasis on treating people in their own homes has reduced the number of in-patient beds required, allowing for a smaller-scale hospital that can better foster individual and communal wellbeing.

The £75m facility, designed to be as comfortable as a hotel and provide plenty of outdoor space and greenery, comprises self-contained wards clustered around landscaped courtyards. All patient accommodation and shared amenities are at ground level, contributing to the building’s domestic scale and character. Bedrooms are mostly private and larger than standard hospital accommodation, and all have windows looking onto a courtyard. An inspirational and calming artwork collection, specially commissioned from 13 artists, adorns the corridors while the exterior’s white walls and wooden cladding reinforce the non-clinical vibe.

WSP was civil and structural engineer on this state-of-the-art PFI scheme, which also includes low and medium secure forensic units as well as a gym, therapy rooms and shared activity space. Our team contributed significantly to the smooth delivery of the project, finding innovative ways to boost efficiency during construction. Using frost-resistant material, for example, we reduced the depth of the ground improvement foundations, saving time and money. The adoption of 3D BIM packages also allowed full co-ordination of the structure and building services during design, ensuring there were no clashes on site.