Contractor chosen for Bristol mental health unit

Willmott Dixon has been awarded the contract to build a mental health unit in Bristol, by Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board.

It will be able to support up to 10 patients at any time, with the building specifically intended for those whose needs cannot be met by existing hospital or community-based services. With completion set for 2025, the unit will help keep people much closer to home, and reduce the need for patients to be admitted to facilities far away from their family and friends.

The new Bristol unit will be run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and complements another similar facility currently under construction in Devon.

Laura Ambler, Executive Lead for Learning Disabilities and Autism, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “When fully open, this site will be a fantastic addition to our existing mental health services, and I know from speaking with local people that having something like this based in our region will make an enormous difference to those who may have otherwise needed to have travelled significant distances for the right care and treatment.”

David Jarrett, Chief Delivery Officer, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, added:

“It is fantastic to see work starting on this much-needed facility. Its development demonstrates our shared dedication to delivering specialised, compassionate care that meets the unique needs of local people, ensuring they receive the support and services they deserve.”