A new chapter for mental health care: Edward Street Hospital reimagined
Redefining Mental Health Spaces for Older Adults
Edward Street Hospital’s £30M redevelopment is more than a build, it’s a blueprint for therapeutic care. We spoke to Associate Director Chris Milburn to uncover the lessons learned and why this project matters for the future of mental health design.
It’s a rare as a Project Manager to see a project through from inception to opening — especially within the NHS!!!
Nearly five years ago, in the midst of Covid-19, we kicked off the project. This week, seeing the doors open to patients fills me with an overwhelming sense of pride. To see this project delivered ahead of programme and under budget is a great accolade for all involved.
Celebrating the official reopening of Edward Street Hospital last month was the validation for the work put in by so many. A milestone that marks not just the completion of a £30 million redevelopment, but a transformation in how we create spaces that give service users more privacy, dignity and therapeutic space.
As P22 Project Managers, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Integrated Health Projects (IHP), and a dedicated team of partners to bring this vision to life. This project is a testament to what can be achieved when collaboration, purpose, and community impact are placed at the heart of healthcare infrastructure.
The challenge: outdated facilities, urgent need
Edward Street Hospital has long been a cornerstone of older adult mental health services in Sandwell. But its facilities, characterised by dormitory-style wards, limited privacy and a layout not suited to dementia care no longer met the standards patients deserve.
The redevelopment was part of a national programme to eradicate dormitory accommodation in mental health settings. The goal was clear: create a safe, modern, and therapeutic environment that supports recovery, dignity, and personalised care.
Our role as Archus
We facilitated the role of P22 Project Manager throughout the preconstruction and construction stages, in the capacity of NEC3 PM. We worked closely with The Trust, IHP (VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine) and WT Partnership to align clinical needs with design and construction, ensuring that every decision was rooted in improving outcomes for patients and staff. We managed the delivery of the c. £27m Construction Contract, which was delivered ahead of programme and under budget.
We also provided strategic and technical consultancy throughout the project lifecycle. From early-stage business case development to programme management and stakeholder engagement, our role was to ensure the Trust’s vision translated into a deliverable, sustainable, and patient-centred facility.
What’s new at Edward Street Hospital
- 100% en-suite single bedrooms replacing shared dormitories
- A new therapies hub to support recovery and rehabilitation
- Flexible therapy spaces and outdoor terraces to enhance wellbeing
- Improved infection control, accessibility, and dementia-friendly design
- A focus on sustainability and community benefit, including local employment and training opportunities
Lessons learned
Every project teaches us something new. Here are a few reflections from our journey:
- Mental health deserves parity. This investment sends a powerful message: older adults with mental health conditions deserve the same quality of environment as any acute care patient.
- Early engagement is everything. Involving patients, carers, and staff from the outset helped shape a facility that truly meets their needs.
- Integration of the team is key – having shared working environments for all members of the Project Team and Contractor team offered opportunities to develop relationships, address key issues in a more organic manor and work as a collective towards a shared goal.
- Flexibility in design pays off. The ability to adapt spaces for different therapeutic uses has already proven valuable.
- Partnerships drive progress. The success of this project hinged on the strength of our collaboration with the Trust and delivery partners.
The Trust has a long standing and successful relationship with Archus spanning some five years. As a mental health Trust, it is particularly important to us that our partners' values and culture are aligned to ours and that, as a company, the wellbeing of their workforce is paramount, but also that they take pride in their team and partnerships formed with organisations like ours. In my experience the Archus team represent these values, and our long-standing relationship reflects their approach and style to working in partnership. Their professionalism, friendly and flexible approach has added much value and allows us to continue working together on projects. The team works well with ours and their collaborative style and approach to project management is well regarded by the Trust.
Sophie Wray, Associate Director of Strategic Estates and Capital, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Looking ahead
As patients and staff return to Edward Street Hospital, we’re reminded that buildings are key enablers of care, dignity, and safety. I’m proud that Archus played a part in delivering a facility that will serve the community for generations to come.
By Chris Milburn, Associate Director, Archus
Get in touch to discover how our programme and project management expertise can help you create environments that champion dignity, recovery, and therapeutic care.
