Better communities

Supported by annual delivery plan 4: Better Environments  

We are investing in modern, high-quality environments that support recovery, reduce stigma and improve experience for patients, staff and communities. Through our Better Environments programme, we are transforming our estate across South West London, creating facilities that are welcoming, inclusive and designed for the future. 

Investing in our estate

In 2025/26, we invested more than £52 million in improving our estate as part of a wider programme of nearly £280 million in NHS facilities within a broader £1 billion programme of development across healthcare and local communities. 

Springfield Village

Springfield Village continues to demonstrate how mental health facilities can be integrated into the heart of the community. Modern inpatient and outpatient facilities now sit alongside homes, cafés, shops, community spaces and a 32-acre public park – the largest created in London since 2012. 

During the year:

  • Springfield Spark, our community grants programme, received more than 50 applications to support arts, culture, sport and wellbeing projects in the park.
  • We launched creative commissions for new public art and seating to strengthen the park’s cultural identity.
  • Through Wandsworth Borough of Culture’s Culturally Mindful programme, artist Shiza Naveed worked with Wandsworth CAMHS staff, children, young people and families to create a mural exploring Journeys of Mental Health. 

Tolworth Hospital redevelopment

We continued significant progress on the £110 million redevelopment of Tolworth Hospital, recently named Tala following a public vote. Construction of the new five-ward facility progressed well during the year, with the main structure completed and internal spaces taking shape ahead of opening in early 2028. 

We also invested in refurbishing Woodroffe House, opened a new wellbeing garden at Ellis Ward and began installing solar panels across the site. 

Alongside the redevelopment, a new co-produced arts programme is being developed to support wellbeing, reduce stigma and create more therapeutic environments for patients, staff and visitors.  

Richmond and Barnes developments

In Richmond, our Better Environments Programme is delivering around £17 million of NHS investment across Barnes and Richmond Royal sites. 

Construction began on the £30 million redevelopment of Barnes Hospital, which will include new NHS outpatient facilities and a Special Educational Needs school, due to open in 2027.

Richmond CAMHS also prepared to move into the refurbished Richmond Royal Wellbeing Centre, creating a brighter and more welcoming environment for children, young people and families. 

Changes across our sites

We continued to centralise services from Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton into more integrated and sustainable facilities. Putney and Roehampton Integrated Recovery Hub relocated to Springfield Hospital in October 2025, while Richmond Home Treatment Team will move to Livingston House in 2026 before relocating to the new Barnes Hospital in 2027. 

Livingston House continues to provide key outpatient and community services during the Barnes redevelopment programme. From autumn 2027, services based at the Maddison Centre in Teddington will also relocate there, maintaining local access while supporting investment in the wider Better Environments Programme. 

Supporting stronger communities

We continued to strengthen our role as an anchor institution by supporting community wellbeing, reducing inequalities and improving access to local support. 

Through South London Listens and the Be Well programme, we worked with 104 community organisations – including 39 in South West London – supporting around 5,000 people each month through local, culturally appropriate support. 

We also established a South London Health and Housing Coalition to improve housing support and tackle the wider social factors that affect mental health, including poverty, poor housing and isolation. 

Alongside this, we continued working with partners to improve access for underserved communities, including strengthening culturally responsive care and supporting 80 GP practices through the Safe Surgeries initiative to improve inclusive access to primary care. 

Looking ahead

We will continue investing in environments that support recovery, wellbeing and community connection. In 2026/27, we will open the new Richmond Royal Wellbeing Centre and continue major redevelopment work at Barnes Hospital and Tolworth Hospital. Alongside improving our buildings, we will continue strengthening our role as an anchor institution within our communities. This includes working with partners to improve wellbeing, reduce inequalities, support local communities and ensure our sites are welcoming, inclusive spaces that contribute positively to the wider social and economic health of South West London.

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