St Ann’s Hospice’s architects PRP share their exciting plans for new building

St Ann’s Hospice have exciting plans for a new hospice in Heald Green and architects PRP have been with them every step of the way. Here, PRP users. Quite a lot of time, if you're developing an office block, for instance, it'll eventually get leased out to new tenants, who will come in and change things round.

Associate Ed Cutler talks about the unique experience of designing a hospice and what a special place it is going to be.

“Ever since we first set foot in the hospice and realised it wasn't working for them, we were keen to help St Ann’s get a new building as quickly as possible.” into two wings, separating the Inpatient Unit (IPU) from the Being You Centre offering day care support. Crossing be neath the trees, with continuous views out over the landscaped gardens, this cor ridor is as much a place to stop for a moments peace as it is to travel between buildings.

St Ann’s Hospice have been working with PRP, an architectural practice with of fices in Manchester (as well as Surrey and London), through out the long codesign process to create a new hospice for the people of Greater Manchester.

Throughout, the overarching focus for PRP has been the well-being of patients, visitors and staff and the vision to transform the end-of-life care experience for future generations of patients that are cared for by St Ann’s.

With that in mind, PRP have created am bitious plans for a 27-bed, fully equipped hospice that is both purposebuilt and environmentally sustainable.

The new £21.5m complex nestles into the natural landscape of a plot adjacent to the current site on St Ann's Road North.

Ed says: “I probably feel closer to this proj ect because, having spent several years getting to know the teams across the organisation, I have seen and felt the wonderful support and care that surrounds patients and visitors in the hospice.

“As architects, you rarely get to work so closely with many of the building’s end

St Ann’s Hospice have two sites – Little Hulton and Heald Green. There has been recent investment in the hospice in Little Hulton, including reimagining the reception, cafe and outdoor areas, so that patients and their loved ones can enjoy time together in a more relaxing, modern environment.

It is the Heald Green hospice that now needs major investment. The old Victorian building, which has served the charity well, is now showing its age and costing many thousands each year in expensive repairs and maintenance. Unlike the more modern hospice in Little Hulton, it has very few pri vate bedrooms for patients and very limited outdoor space.

The new hospice will change all of this and will include individual en-suite rooms and access to private outdoor terraces. The new site is split into three sections by ma ture trees, all of which are subject to Tree Preservation Orders by virtue of their historic significance within the Cheadle Royal Conservation Area.

The proposed development retains all but three of the existing trees, with the building and gardens making best use of the ready-made landscaping while remaining sensitive to the heritage of the surrounding conservation area.

A linking corridor connects the buildings

There will also be a large coffee shop at the entrance to the building, which will serve refreshments for patients, visitors and staff in a non-clinical environment.

The IPU will provide care for up to 27 pa tients, with both individual and shared rooms.

There are 21 single patient rooms and two three-bed bays. Each room has double doors opening out to an outdoor terrace and beyond into the landscaped gardens, which include courtyards and sensory planting.

Ed says: “The project has many different facets. We needed to create a space that meets stringent clinical requirements but looks and feels homely. It almost wants to feel like a five-star hotel.”

PRP have produced an architectural model of the new hospice, with the display showing all of these plans.

Anne-Marie Wynne, Head of Fundraising and Capital Campaign at St Ann’s, says: “I am thrilled with the model, it’s a great re minder of what we are working towards (raising £2 million via our fundraising appeal) and has made us all even more excited to see the result come to life! Our aim is to provide our patients with a homely feel, so they can be as comfortable as possible at our hospice.”

St Ann’s Hospice is now looking for sponsors for the individual bedrooms within the hospice. For more information on the project, sponsorship and donation options, please visit www.sah.org.uk/newhospicebedrooms