£7.1m Calderstones extension under way (From Lancashire Telegraph)

£7.1m Calderstones extension under way

12:30pm Wednesday 15th August 2012 in Health By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

WORK has now started on a major £7.1million extension at Calderstones Hospital in Whalley.

Called Maplewood 2, the development is a 33,000ft single storey building, to provide a therapeutic environment for 32 service users with learning disabilities.

There will be four flats catering for eight people in a low secure setting, together with day services, psychology facilities and a secure garden area.

Maplewood 2 will replace the out-dated Chestnut Drive accommodation which will be vacated when the new building opens next summer.

Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust chairman John Berry said: “Calderstones is investing in the top class accommodation for service users, demonstrating the commitment and confidence in our long term future as a provider of sought after services for people with learning disabilities.

“As well as preserving staff jobs at Calderstones, we are supporting the local economy through our main contractors, the well-respected John Turner Construction Group who have been awarded the £5.5m construction contract.”

Maplewood 2 will be “A” rated for energy use, using low carbon technology, insulation throughout the building and solar panels on the roof.

Energy generated by the solar panels will feed through to ground source heat pump which will multiply by four every 1kw of electricity generated by the panels.

The new building will be 100 per cent compliant with the latest specification for the low secure accommodation set by the North West Secure Commissioners of learning disability services and will take 52 weeks to complete.

The Trust employs more than 1500 staff and provides in-patient care for people with learning and associated disabilities.

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