Willmott Dixon has scooped a £7 million deal to deliver a new autism secure unit at Brooklands Hospital in Marston Green, Birmingham.

Commissioned by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, the single-storey facility will provide eight ensuite bedrooms, one of which will be a seclusion suite.

Procured through Procurement Hub’s Major Projects framework, Willmott Dixon is working with architect Design Buro.

The new building comes with the bonus of optional social communal spaces that offer comfortable accommodation. It is particularly important for patients to have access to a safe communal space alongside self-contained areas to help with rehabilitation and avoiding prolonged periods of detrimental isolation.

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The project also includes external considerations including an anti-climb roof and four-meter perimeter fencing, while the internal design elements incorporate high-quality ventilation and anti-ligature lighting. Work is underway on a live site, so the project team has emphasised the importance of communication and collaboration to ensure the smooth running of construction.

Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with the aim to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification a driving force. The building will also be heated by air source heat pumps, which is in line with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust’s commitment to no longer install gas-fuelled systems.

Work is set to be completed by March 2023.