£30m Barnes Hospital redevelopment to include mental health hub and specialist school
Construction officially launched this week - story 94
A £30m redevelopment of Barnes Hospital will deliver a new mental health facility and a specialist school for children with additional needs.
Construction officially began on Tuesday 24 June at the site on South Worple Way, with completion expected in 2027.
The project will bring outpatient mental health services back to Barnes, while also providing a purpose-built special educational needs (SEN) school for young people aged 7 to 19 with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.
The new school, to be named The London River Academy, will offer 90 places and be run by The Beckmead Trust, a specialist education provider.
Councillor Julia Cambridge, Chair of Richmond’s Education and Children’s Services, welcomed the investment.
The new school is an important development that will offer tailored educational support for children with social and emotional needs. It will provide a nurturing environment where these children can grow, learn, and achieve their full potential.
A recent update from the NHS trust behind the project outlines how the scheme forms part of wider improvements to mental health services across the borough, led by South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.
It is the second major infrastructure investment in the area this year, following the approval of a £1.3bn redevelopment of the nearby Stag Brewery site in Mortlake.