Silverwood Hospital

Client
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Contractor
Value
January 2025
Completion Date
June 2026

–The Challenge

The Abraham Cowley Unit had become outdated and no longer met modern standards for inpatient mental healthcare. Shared dormitory-style accommodation undermined privacy and dignity, and the building lacked dedicated therapeutic spaces or meaningful access to gardens – key elements in contemporary mental health treatment. SABP sought a complete transformation of the inpatient journey, with modern ensuite bedrooms, safe observation lines, improved sensory and therapy areas, and a calm, healing environment.

However, the Trust faced a substantial affordability gap. The initial Stage 3 design exceeded budget constraints by a wide margin, placing the project at risk of being undeliverable. At the same time, construction needed to take place within a live hospital campus alongside two other construction projects, requiring meticulous planning, interface management and strict protection of hospital operations.

The safety-critical nature of mental health environments further amplified the challenge, with anti-ligature detailing, acoustic control and high-precision installation essential to ensuring safe and therapeutic spaces.

The Solution

The contractor delivered a comprehensive and collaborative solution that restored affordability while preserving the full clinical integrity of the project. When the initial Stage 3 design exceeded budget, the team worked closely with the Trust to re-engineer the scheme without reducing capacity or compromising therapeutic standards. This was achieved through a targeted value engineering process that rationalised the building footprint, optimised floor areas, simplified external works and replaced high-cost façade elements with durable, lower-cost alternatives. The redesign not only made the project deliverable but also enhanced operational value, supported sustainability objectives and retained all 64 single ensuite bedrooms and associated clinical spaces. Early engagement with the Trust’s estates and FM teams ensured future maintenance, energy efficiency and lifecycle costs were significantly improved.

Following approval of the redesigned scheme, the project team advanced into detailed design and construction with an approach grounded in clinical collaboration and lived-experience input. Continuous engagement with clinicians, estates teams and SABP’s Lived Experience Group helped refine layouts, daylighting, observation lines and therapeutic spaces to support dignity, privacy and recovery. Lessons learned from previous mental health schemes informed anti-ligature decisions and material selection, while construction proceeded safely within a live hospital environment through strict logistics management and weekly coordination with adjacent contractors. The contractor’s Millimetres Matter Standard ensured precise installation and rigorous testing of all safety-critical components, supported by anti-ligature training delivered to subcontractors.

The Results

Silverwood was successfully delivered as a modern, therapeutic and operationally efficient inpatient mental health facility that meets the Trust’s clinical, financial and sustainability objectives.

The project’s strategic redesign secured approximately £7.5 million (25%) in savings, enabling the Trust to proceed with a scheme that had previously been unaffordable, without compromising clinical intent, quality standards or capacity.

Construction was delivered without disruption to hospital operations and achieved zero RIDDOR incidents, demonstrating exemplary site management within a live clinical setting. Early FM involvement and optimised building services arrangements also reduced future maintenance and lifecycle costs, ensuring long-term value for the Trust.

As a result, Silverwood now stands as a clinically effective, financially resilient and future-proof facility supporting high-quality inpatient mental health care.

86.4%

SME Spend

£7,599,573

Added Value

Contractor Performance | Commitments

Legacy

260 hours volunteering

14 new jobs created for locals within 30 miles

436 weeks training (apprenticeship & T-Level)

Three online career prospects workshops delivered to support service users and volunteers

200+ reclaimed bricks cleaned, signed by service users and incorporated into the therapy garden

Time capsule to honour the legacy of the former Abraham Cowley Unit

Winter Safety Stand Down focused on mental health, leading to quarterly joint MH sessions

Dedicated wellbeing room and Be Well volunteering days for staff

Therapy garden and community tree-planting events

Hosted a stand at Recovery Fest 2023, providing tours and career information

Multiple Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) trained

Prostate Cancer UK toolbox talk and #FootballShirtFriday fundraising

On-site workforce health screening provided

Sustainability

BREEAM Excellent

44/45 CCS score, including 14/15 for environmental performance

Segregated skips, PPE recycling and wood-recycling scheme reduced landfill waste – 99%

Solar-powered CCTV and PIR lighting in cabins to cut energy consumption

Rainwater harvesting implemented to reduce mains water usage

LED lighting installed throughout for long-term energy efficiency

Bat boxes added to enhance biodiversity

Robust hazardous waste storage to minimise pollution risk

Aftercare

Early trial rooms constructed to test anti-ligature systems, layouts and finishes

Ongoing FM engagement enabled optimised building services and easy maintenance

VR headsets used in design reviews and familiarisation sessions

Soft landings approach ensured smooth operational transition

Rapid post-handover support to resolve early-stage queries

Safe

0 RIDDORs and 0 AFR across the entire construction period

Delivered safely within a live hospital campus alongside two other major projects

Rigorous logistics and sequencing to prevent clashes or service disruption

Fair

80% of invoices paid within 30 days