Dorset HealthCare has opened its new 8-bed High Intensity Environment (HIE) on the Alumhurst Road site in Bournemouth, designed to provide secure inpatient care for young people with complex mental health needs. The facility, built by Kier and designed by Medical Architecture, aims to address a shortage of acute mental health beds in the south west of England for patients aged 12–18 who cannot be safely treated on a general adolescent unit.
Design and layout
Located close to an existing Grade II* listed building, the new site occupies a steeply sloping plateau that offers direct views of the surrounding tree canopies. Staff accommodation sits at the lower ground floor level, while patient accommodation is situated to create a visual connection with the surroundings. A large central courtyard forms the heart of the accommodation, providing secure outdoor access and linking day spaces such as a television room, games room, and lounge.
The building relies on a choreographed layout of circulation routes and rooflights to direct attention to specific areas, including a snug seating area in the central corridor. Patient rooms feature large windows and window seats to maximise daylight and views of the biodiverse grounds. The design prioritises clear sight lines for staff to manage risk while maintaining a calm environment for recovery.
Feedback highlighted the need for distinct separation between private and communal areas, leading to a layout that uses calm transition spaces to reduce anxiety. This approach supports the goal of providing specialist care closer to home.
The building envelope includes a high-quality standing seam zinc roof and buff brick base that complement the site’s heritage buildings. A photovoltaic array will generate at least 53,000 kWh annually, and the facility is on target to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. As one of the early projects in the NHS New Hospital Programme, the scheme has informed future builds through standardised room design and rationalised accommodation.
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Co-production and design process
Given the complex and vulnerable nature of the patient group, co-production was fundamental to the design process. A structured engagement programme brought together clinical teams, estates representatives, peer specialists, existing service users, local residents, and members of the public, with additional input from the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi). Feedback highlighted the importance of clearly separating private and communal spaces, supported by calm transition areas that reduce anxiety and aid recovery. These insights directly informed the zoning of day and night accommodation and the provision of sanctuary spaces throughout the building.
NHS programme and community impact
“This facility represents a major step forward for mental health services in Dorset,” said Matthew Bryant, Chief Executive at Dorset HealthCare. “It will enable us to care for young people with high intensity needs in a restorative environment close to friends and family, improving the chance of recovery.”
Yvonne Ophaus, Associate at Medical Architecture, said: “Responding to the site’s complex topography and the unit’s distinctive requirements, the building harnesses the calming qualities of its woodland setting to create a sanctuary among the trees, supporting the delivery of care for a vulnerable patient group.”
“Working in collaboration with the Trust, the New Hospital Programme, and our specialist supply chain partners, our local team is proud to have delivered this best-in-class facility with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust,” said Matt Griffiths, Healthcare Sector Director at Kier Construction. “Drawing on our extensive healthcare and mental health expertise, the team successfully handled a complex site and technically challenging build, including a steep gradient and a live hospital environment, to create a calm, therapeutic setting that now provides a peaceful space for clinicians to deliver the best possible patient care.”