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iting a new mental health unit can often be problematic, but that is not the biggest challenge for the construction team working on a new children’s centre in Colchester. For contractor ISG Jackson and a team of consultants includ-


ing KLH and Atkins, the biggest obstacle to the successful com- pletion of this Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Unit is the design and installation of the services for a project that must secure a rating of ‘Excellent’ in the BREEAM environ- mental accreditation system. After plans were unveiled by the client, North Essex


Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, there was some muted anxiety, with one local resident telling the Daily Gazette news- paper: “I think some people in Whitebeam Close have expressed concerns about noise. It depends on how it is run and whether the young adults are catered for properly and cared for


and allowed out.” The scheme at Boxted Road on the outskirts of Colchester


replaces services at Longview Adolescent Unit at Turner Road in the town, but the other parts of the site for the new scheme at the old Severalls Hospital have been a long-standing base for mental healthcare. With plans for the new unit project fully supported by the


local authority, including ward councillor Martin Goss, any fears among the local residents were assuaged through public consultation. The scheme is being designed by Ipswich-based KLH


Architects. KLH director Alan J Howard explains: “There was no local opposition to the scheme at planning stage, partly due to the Trust providing a community exhibition of the proposals for public consultation, and responding to comments made.


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