BUILDING A NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL IN

 MOUNT VIEW STREET, BEXHILL-ON-SEA

 

PLANNING UPDATE

 

May 2022

 

PLANNING APPLICATION

 

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has submitted a formal planning application to Rother District Council to build new hospital facilities with a potential capacity of 126 inpatient beds. These facilities will be built in two phases.

 

We submitted a detailed planning application for Phase 1 which is to build a 54-bed hospital to replace out-dated services currently based at the Department of Psychiatry in Eastbourne.

 

At the same time, we submitted outline planning application for Phase 2 which could potentially provide a further 72 beds, depending on funding becoming available.

 

Details of the planning application can be found on Rother District Council's website: bexhillinpatientmentalhealthfacility

 

THE PROPOSALS              

 

To remind people, we want to build a new 54-bed hospital for adults and older people with mental health conditions on a site off Mount View Street, North East Bexhill.

 

It will:

•  remove out-dated dormitory accommodation, replacing the shared wards sited in the Department of Psychiatry with individual bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms
•  provide a modern and improved therapeutic environment for patients, and
•  create enough capacity to meet future inpatient needs.

 

This represents the first step in a wider programme aimed at building new modern facilities on a single site which will, in the future, meet all mental health inpatient needs for the people of East Sussex and beyond.

 

PRE-PLANNING APPLICATION CONSULTATION - A SUMMARY

 

As part of the pre-planning application engagement for these plans, we hosted two public meetings for local residents on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 March 2022.

 

More than 150 people attended the meetings over the two days. They included people living in and around the site, county, district and town councillors, the local MP, Huw Merriman, as well as a representative from the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce.

 

Of those who attended, 25 people left completed feedback forms, or posted them after the events. We also received individual letters and emails from residents outside of these meetings which we responded to.

 

RESIDENTS' FEEDBACK

 

Most people either strongly agreed or tended to agree with the plans to build a new mental health hospital on the site (68%).  Most people also either strongly agreed or tended to agree with plans to potentially extend the site in the future to create a campus which could provide all hospital-based mental health services in East Sussex (52%).

 

While there were few objections to the actual principle of a new mental health hospital on the site, residents did express the following concerns:

 

1.         Location of secondary access roads.

2.         Use of the amenity area outlined at the rear of properties in St James Avenue.

3.         Traffic levels and how to mitigate any increases.

4.         Location of bus stops.

5.         Drainage and flooding in Bodiam Avenue.

6.         Impact on wildlife and surrounding woodland.

7.         Lighting, CCTV and fencing around the proposed site.

 

We have addressed these concerns in the formal planning application.

 

HOW WE HAVE RESPONDED TO THESE CONCERNS

 

1. Location of secondary access roads

 

The suggested secondary site entrances for emergency services access in the event of an emergency, ie St James Avenue and Bodiam Avenue, have been removed from the application so that the most suitable solution can be found at a later date, in consultation with residents and the Highways Authority.

 

2. Use of the amenity area outlined at the rear of properties in St James Avenue.

 

This area of land, which will be owned by SPFT if planning permission is approved, has been excluded within the final proposed layout.  It was originally shown as an area which can be used for general patient amenity, an example might be to use it for therapy space, such as allotments or a garden area.  This is now not being proposed to be included as part of the scheme proposals. However, we will be liaising with residents backing on to the land about its future use.

 

3. Traffic levels and how to mitigate any increases.

 

As the facilities will not operate in the same way as a traditional hospital, and the resulting staff, visitor and patient trip profiles, mean that the effect of the proposals on the local transport networks is expected to be negligible in comparison to the original outline planning approval for light industrial use.

 

We assessed the impact of the proposals on the local road network, including the Wrestwood Road/Mount View Street signal-controlled junction. We concluded that they will not give rise to road traffic safety issues, and will have a negligible impact on the local road network.

 

4. Location of bus stops.

 

We anticipate that, because of this development and the new housing being built opposite, public transport routes would be introduced, or altered, to provide better access to this area.  Sustainable modes of travel to and from the site, such as public transport, will be encouraged.

 

We are in discussion with the Highways Authority, which will be consulted on the proposals. If there is a need for the proposals to make a contribution to the provision of a new bus stop, then this is something which the application can provide for. 

 

In the meantime, we have carried out a full transport analysis for the site and have established a transport and travel review group to look at the travel and transport implications of the plans. Further details can be found on the public consultation website: https://www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/get-involved/mh-eastsussex/

 

5. Drainage and flooding in Bodiam Avenue.

 

We have developed a Drainage Strategy for the site which has been specifically designed in accordance with local planning guidance to ensure that the proposed development will discharge surface water in line with drainage hierarchy, ie into the ground (infiltration), to a surface water body, eg river,  to a surface water sewer, highway drain, or another drainage system or to a combined sewer.

 

6. Impact on wildlife and surrounding woodland.

 

Any wildlife, such as badgers or reptiles, will be sensitively relocated, if necessary.  Construction activities will take into account of the need to retain the integrity of site boundaries and not damage any wildlife habitats. 

 

Our proposals will ensure the planting of wildlife-friendly flora. Also we will protect the existing trees on site and supplement them with new trees and other planting to form a pleasant zone between the proposed building and neighbouring houses. 

 

7. Lighting, CCTV and fencing around the proposed site.

 

Lighting will be installed but it will be designed to be discreet and not a light nuisance for neighbouring properties.  Details of the lighting proposals are included in the submitted Design and Access Statement which accompanies the planning application.

 

CCTV cameras will be installed internally and externally to ensure a safe and secure environment for patients and staff. These cameras will focus on the hospital site only, and not the wider environment.

 

The tallest possible height of the ward garden boundary fences would be approximately 5 metres (17 feet).  This is necessary to maintain patient safety.  These are not intended to be high-security style fencing but something which is more appropriate to the nearby residential area.

 

Full details of how we have responded  to the findings from the pre-planning consultation can be found on the Rother District Council website: bexhillinpatientmentalhealthfacility

 

If you want to contact us directly with any comments, questions or concerns through our dedicated email address: esxccg.eastsussex.mh@nhs.net

 

Call us on: 0300 304 0330 (local rates apply)

Write to us at:

Freepost RSHG-GEZL-RBBK

Communications

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Trust Headquarters

Arundel Road

Worthing BN13 3EP