Green light for world-class learning centre at the Maudsley

A new, world-class teaching facility at the Maudsley Hospital got the go ahead last night.

The hospital is part of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and subject to conditions, demolition of the Southwark Training Centre, the existing building on-site, could start in December and construction early in 2012.  The project has a scheduled opening date of spring 2013.

Southwark Council granted planning permission for the application, which was submitted by SLaM Charitable Funds' (renamed Maudsley Charity) - the charity that manages SLaM's historical legacy and financial donations.  

The new Learning Centre will replace the existing Southwark Training Centre on Grove Lane, which was built in the 1970s and is no longer fit for its purpose. It will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment to help promote mental health and well-being and provide facilities for use by the local community.

Paul Mitchell, Director, Maudsley Charity, said: "World leading mental health research is developed on this campus.  Our new learning centre will be suitable for today's multi-media teaching methods and will be a more appropriate space to pass on this research and other training to staff.  The centre will also be open to the local community which will help us to raise awareness of the valuable work we do here."

The granting of permission follows extensive public consultation with neighbouring residents, staff and local stakeholders across Camberwell.

The new building will be contemporary in design and also highly sustainable, achieving a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by using renewable energy generated on site.

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Contact Russell Guthrie, Communications Manager on 020 3228 2621 for more information.  russell.guthrie@slam.nhs.uk