The project included the demolition of the existing Convent of the Good Shepherd building complex with a total floorspace of 5,068m2 and its replacement by a new development comprising a purpose-built residential treatment centre building of contemporary design, a separate small multi-faith pavilion and a small maintenance building were also included in the works.

Comprehensive landscaping and planting, including restoration of the parkland on the site was also undertaken together with revised access and car parking arrangements.

A comprehensive range of accommodation was included in the new residential treatment centre including reception, visitor’s and conference/presentation rooms, rooms for back of house staff, kitchen and laundry facilities and a dining room, a clinical hub and a total of five bed spaces provided in 24 shared rooms plus two disabled bedrooms, a lounge, library, resource rooms, eight counselling rooms, treatment/therapy rooms and a keep fit studio and gymnasium.

The treatment centre was designed to achieve high standards of thermal and environmental performance and achieved a BREEAM Excellent standard. The project included: ground source heat pump, low embodied energy insulation and passive natural ventilation with additional opening lights to windows, use of passive and active solar energy and natural shading, low pollution heating, low energy lighting and electrical appliances PIR controls, seedum roof with rain water harvesting and grey water harvesting, re-use of excavated materials on site.The residential wing was constructed using a timber frame structure.

The overall programme for this project was extremely tight and to relieve some of the programme pressures Neilcott introduced bathroom pods to construct the en-suite facilities.

In order to maintain progress on site and keep to programme Neilcott carefully planned the demolition works in order to maintain an existing live sub-station until such time as the new infrastructure was in place and the loads transferred to the new.

Internally the buildings were fitted out to a 5* hotel finish. The project was also awarded a Better Healthcare Award for Sustainability.