This year, our cosmetic repairs team has been working on a building steeped in history – the NHS Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire.
Originally founded in 1863, it was first known as the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum. In 2001 the hospital was taken over by the NHS trust and is now one of three primary psychiatric units in the UK.
Much of Broadmoor’s architecture is still Victorian, including the Grade 1 listed gatehouse, which features its well-recognised antique clock tower.
Following reports that the old buildings were unfit for purpose, planning permission was granted in 2012 for a £242 million redevelopment, involving a new unit comprising of ten wards to adjoin the existing six wards of the modern Paddock Unit.
The cosmetic repairs team at SD teams is currently working on a new unit of 162 beds, led by Kier Construction Group, to replace the facilities currently provided in outdated buildings. The project is worth £115m, and the main building work has been taking place for the past four years, ready to accept patients earlier this year.
The repairs project is extensive, and is likely to be continuing until the end of 2017 making the cosmetic work a near year-long undertaking.
Broadmoor Hospital has famously housed some of the UK’s most notorious criminals, including Ronnie Kray (of the Kray twins) and Charles Bronson. During the First World War, Broadmoor’s Block 1 was also used as a prisoner-of-war camp, called Crowthorne War Hospital, for mentally ill German soldiers.
This will be SD teams’ second contract with Kier Group, following on from the unique Plymouth Science Park. The repair work is coming along nicely and the team at SD are enjoying working on such a historic and distinctive building.
For more information on SD teams’ cosmetic repairs service, click here.