Back
|
Print
Text Size
About us
Regeneration news 2009
Shaping the future of Springfield
Public engagement work and newsletter: November - December 2009
In November and December 2009, the Trust held public engagement events to gauge local opinion on issues relating to the proposed regeneration of the Springfield site. This work is in addition to the formal consultation process to take place in 2010 when the Trust proposes to submit a new planning application for Springfield. The discussions with members of the community will play an important part in shaping the next set of proposals for Springfield's future.
Canvassing opinion
In November, street canvassing events were held in Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Wandsworth Common and Earlsfield. Their purpose was to capture a broad range of views from local people, many of whom had not previously been directly involved with the project. The team recorded people's views about the area and found out what might concern or appeal to them about the regeneration of Springfield. 3,500 digital copies of the canvass card questionnaire used at these events were also sent to members of the community, Springfield staff, and any other people who requested them.
Regeneration workshop
Key representatives from the local community attended a workshop held in December, where the issues and constraints affecting the site were discussed with the aim of establishing a range of guiding principles to be incorporated into the next phase of the planning work.
Public engagement findings
The findings from this dialogue process are outlined in a newsletter sent to everyone with an interest in the project.
December 2009 newsletter (PDF 1.42MB)
Wandsworth Recovery Centre scoops prestigious award
Press release: 25 November 2009
The new state-of-the-art Wandsworth Recovery Centre at Springfield University Hospital has triumphed in this year's Building Better Healthcare Awards.
The £23m facility was awarded Best Project Team and was highly commended in the Best Mental Health Design category in the awards, which recognise and celebrate best practice in health care building design.
The Wandsworth Recovery Centre opened its doors in April this year and is home to an 18-bed acute admissions ward and a 10-bed psychiatric intensive care ward, together with community team bases and outpatient facilities. The unit has been designed to provide welcoming, therapeutic and safe environments and each patient has their own bedroom with ensuite bathroom. There are also gardens immediately accessible from the patient areas, a sports pitch, gym and a fully serviced reception area.
Robert Barr, the Trust's director of estates, said:
"This is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the huge amount of hard work that went into ensuring this project was a success. Feedback from service users and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive and staff have settled into their new environment well.
"I am particularly delighted for our in-house client team and constructor, Integrated Health Projects, for their huge efforts in working together to achieve a successful outcome."
The Wandsworth Recovery Centre was designed by MAAP Architects, who were commissioned as experienced mental health architects. Director Mungo Smith said:
"MAAP is delighted at the recent success of the Wandsworth Recovery Centre. Winning the Building Better Healthcare award is not only recognition of the project team's genuine and collaborative partnership, it's also an endorsement of the Trust's strong vision and robust master plan to deliver a challenging project."
New chief executive committed to consulting on redevelopment plans
Press release: 3 August 2009
Chief Executive Judy Wilson has signalled her commitment to consulting fully with the local community on proposals to redevelop Springfield Hospital prior to the submission of a revised planning application next summer.
Judy, newly appointed chief executive of South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust, says she wants to ensure there is an extensive period of consultation with local residents on revised plans to regenerate the 33 hectare site in Tooting.
Judy said:
"We remain committed to providing state-of-the-art mental health facilities here at Springfield and I believe we have already made significant progress through our work with Wandsworth Council to address some of the eight reasons for the rejection of our initial application. But we have more work to do.
"I have recently been working with a small group of residents to begin consulting on our plans and our meetings have really shown me how important it is that we listen and take on board the community's views.
"I have therefore taken the decision that we will not submit a revised planning application to Wandsworth Council until early next summer to allow plenty of time to talk to local residents to ensure we deliver a scheme that has their support."
Judy added that the Trust aims to be in a position to start consulting with the community on its emerging plans for the 168-year-old site with a series of exhibitions this autumn.
In the meantime Judy has given her assurance that the Trust will take all necessary action in the short term to maintain and improve the quality of environments in existing buildings.
With one in four of us experiencing a mental health problem at some point in our lives, and around 25,000 people using the Trust's services at any one time, investment in mental health care at Springfield will bring important benefits for the local community. The Trust is determined to provide first class modern facilities at Springfield which provide greater privacy and safety and which are by their nature more therapeutic and conducive to recovery.
Springfield - The Way Forward
Newsletter: June 2009
An update on the Springfield regeneration work from Judy Wilson, the Chief Executive, was distributed across the Springfield site and to 8,000 neighbouring homes in June 2009.
The newsletter sets out the reasons for the refusal of the Trust's first outline planning application for the site and explains what will happen next.
June 2009 newsletter (PDF 2.29 MB)
Recent news
For more recent updates on the project, visit Springfield regeneration news.
