Success for St George’s Hospital scheme

On behalf of our clients, the Midlands Partnership NHS Trust, we have secured detailed planning permission for extensions and alterations, with associated external works and fencing at Norbury House, St George’s Hospital in Stafford. Norbury House provides in-patient services for adults in need of acute mental health care. The purpose of the proposed development is to improve the external and internal function of the facility, for the benefit of patients, staff and visitors, through the erection of extensions and the carrying out of internal alterations.

The approved proposals will provide a dedicated de-escalation and seclusion area adjacent to, but outside the confines of the ward; at present, de-escalation takes place within the heart of the ward which can be disruptive to patients and puts staff in potentially harmful situations. The proposals also create more visitor space, for families and friends to visit. In addition, the extensions and alterations will remove the need for those needing access to plant for maintenance to access the ward from inside. The two-storey extension is in the optimum part of the site to physically link up to the existing buildings and uses.

We worked closely with the NHS Trust, as well as with Gilling Dod Architects, and officers at Stafford Borough Council, to ensure the smooth passage of the application, by promptly responding to any queries or clarifications raised during its processing. We successfully argued that the principle of the development is acceptable and supported by national and local planning policy, specifically with regards to securing the provision of community facilities that meet an on-going community need, support the delivery of local strategies to improve the health of the community and to provide specialist accommodation.

Planning permission was granted under delegated powers on 7th January 2021.