Construction has officially begun on a £30 million regeneration project at Barnes Hospital led by Willmott Dixon.

The project includes the development of a new NHS mental health facility and a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school, following the successful completion of the nearby Chiswick Health Centre. It is being funded by South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust alongside LocatED, an arm's-length body of the Department for Education.

The redevelopment aims to deliver modern, sustainable facilities that serve both the healthcare and education sectors. The new NHS centre will house a range of community mental health services that were temporarily relocated to the Trust’s Livingston House site in Teddington in 2023. Upon reopening in 2027, the Barnes site will operate alongside Livingston House, improving service accessibility across the borough.

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The school component of the scheme, known as the London River Academy, will offer 90 places for children with social and emotional mental health (SEMH) needs. It will be operated by the Beckmead Trust and is designed to provide a supportive, purpose-built learning environment.

The Barnes Hospital transformation follows extensive community consultation involving staff, patients, carers, and local residents. It also forms part of a wider strategic programme to modernise mental health infrastructure across South West London. That programme began with the £150 million redevelopment of Springfield University Hospital in Wandsworth, completed in 2023. It will continue with the opening of the Richmond Royal Wellbeing Centre later this summer, Barnes Hospital in 2027, and conclude with the £110 million redevelopment of Tolworth Hospital in Kingston, scheduled for completion in 2028.

Alongside the health and education components, a residential development led by LS Estates is also planned for the remaining part of the Barnes site, contributing to the broader regeneration of the area.