Work has begun to rebuild part Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland - with developers sharing an image of what the development should look like when finished in January 2024.
The hospital - part of the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS trust - offers care for those with a range of mental health and learning disabilities. The rebuild will see a brand new entrance building including a reception area and public café, along with workspace areas and offices for consultants on the upper floors.
The building will also contain an "administration hub", and crisis call services for the hospital. The plans will also see a tree-lined staff car park and a landscaped "memorial garden". The plans were initially rejected in December 2021 after concerns about the impact on the city's heritage, but an appeal was upheld by a planning inspector.
Campaigners had raised concerns about how the building’s stone 'portico' entrance to be retained and incorporated into the design of the new clinical office development, but developers maintained this was not feasible. The hospital is around 90 years old.
Now the Sir Robert McAlpine construction firm have begun work. The firm are part of a partnership called Monkwearmouth Development Ltd along with Argon Property Developments and are working with NTW Solutions to deliver the project.
NTW Solutions are a subsidiary company wholly-owned by the NHS Trust. The historic façade of the hospital will be demolished.
Paul McCabe, Director of Estates and Facilities from NTW Solutions Ltd, said: "NTW Solutions Ltd is proud to be part of this development which is seeing much needed investment in the Monkwearmouth Hospital site and will bring real benefits to service users, staff and visitors."
David Hosken, project director at Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures said: "We are immensely proud of the planned development, which will provide key workers with the spaces that are essential to the incredible work they are doing.
"We’re looking forward to seeing the new building shape up in the months ahead. This fantastic project allows us to continue to build on our successes working alongside NHS Trusts to deliver developments with positive outcomes for the people who will use them."
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