FWP transforms Health-Based Places of Safety for NHS trust

By Rob Kelly

13 Feb 2025

One of the Tameside suites

Leading architect, design and masterplanning practice FWP’s specialist mental health team is working with Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust to transform its Health-Based Places of Safety (HBPoS).

The work to revamp the trust’s ‘S136 suites’ - where someone needing urgent mental health care can be assessed for onward treatment planning – is now entering its final phase.

The trust is investing £1.3million in improving and expanding its S136 services and FWP has been commissioned to deliver major alterations and refurbishments to facilities across three hospitals.

The first two phases of the project are now complete. The S136 suite at Fairfield Hospital in Bury has been refurbished and work at Tameside Hospital has seen an existing suite revamped and a new second facility created.

The third phase, which will see the refurbishment of the S136 suite at The Royal Oldham Hospital, is underway, with work onsite set to be completed in March by contractor John Turner Construction.

Preston headquartered FWP has spearheaded the project, providing architectural and interior design as well as project management and principal designer services.

The practice, which also has offices in Manchester and London, has a wealth of experience in the mental health care sector.

The new-look suites have been designed to create a more calming environment for patients and each has an external garden area they can securely use.

The carefully created remodelling of the suites also includes nature inspired artwork which is designed to be soothing.

The trust has worked with its key partners including Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Services and local councils on the transformation project.

David Simmons, FWP senior associate partner, said: “A Section 136 suite should be a comfortable, safe and secure environment where people can receive a mental health assessment and develop an ongoing treatment plan focused on their individual needs and requirements.

The suites have to be comfortable and safe and secure for people who may be vulnerable and exhibit unpredictable behaviours.

“We have worked with the trust on the layout and design to promote feelings of calmness and serenity and the creation of outdoor spaces also allows fresh air and a change of environment to encourage the patient to be calm and lower their anxiety.

“The use of natural light, carefully considered colour choices and the temperature and air quality of the suites all add to the sense of calm we have looked to create.

“We have also incorporated monitoring equipment implementing the latest technologies into the suites.

“And importantly, the facilities have been designed to ensure the safety and security of both the service users and staff members.”

It is the latest in several important mental health projects delivered by FWP for NHS trusts across the North West of England.

FWP led on a recent project to create a new home for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Stockport for Pennine Care.

The facility has been designed to help children on their journey to recovery and offer support to the children, carers and parents from conditions, such as anxiety, autism, depression, psychosis, self-harm, ADHD and ASD.

The FWP team also created a Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, developed to support people attending the hospital’s accident and emergency department in a mental health crisis.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, which provides a range of services including secondary mental health care, also appointed FWP to deliver a NHS rehabilitation centre at Wesham, on the Fylde Coast, which focuses on helping people’s recovery from complex mental health problems.

And FWP’s specialist mental health team successfully delivered the redesign of the trust’s Skylark Centre in Preston. This rehabilitation unit at Royal Preston Hospital is now helping patients recovering from mental health conditions, regain the skills associated with day-to-day living.

FWP has a successful track record of delivering NHS projects in the North West for more than a quarter of a century, including the Life and Urgent Care centres at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and The Minerva Centre in Preston North End’s Deepdale ground.

FWP also designed and delivered a new specialist family support centre for St John’s Hospice in Lancaster.

For further information on FWP and its portfolio of projects, visit: www.fwpgroup.co.uk

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

2

Lancashire Combined County Authority unveil plan to Get Lancashire Working Lancashire Combined Authority

Lancashire Combined County Authority unveil plan to Get Lancashire Working

10 Sep 2025

3

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks announce strategic collaboration Collaboration between BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks announce strategic collaboration

09 Sep 2025

4

High street retailers urged to ‘take advantage’ of new funded support programme Brian Moore, Lee Johnson, Anne Williamson and Andrew Leeming

High street retailers urged to ‘take advantage’ of new funded support programme

08 Sep 2025

5

Beaverbrooks invest in the high street in difficult conditions Mark Adlestone And Anna Blackburn Beaverbrooks

Beaverbrooks invest in the high street in difficult conditions

08 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin