Honeysuckle Lodge

What We Did

The existing Hawthorn House has been carefully reconfigured and refurbished to form an inpatient Female Recovery Unit, now known as Honeysuckle Lodge.  This new mental health facility is based on the Royal Bolton Hospital site, providing rehabilitation and recovery for women suffering with complex mental health needs across the Greater Manchester region.

Working closely with users, we designed a homely and comfortable environment to promote wellbeing and recovery, giving the users choice and flexible living, as well as providing different activity areas i.e. a sensory room and art room.

The facility houses 14 bedrooms, all with private but safe en-suite facilities. Anti-ligature fixings were implemented sensitively and non-clinically, to maintain a warm and homely interior.   Users are provided with a choice of areas to sit and relax, be that comfortable seating in the main day space or dining areas.  Alternatively, there is corridor seating for users who want to spend time away from the hustle and bustle of the main day area.

Communal areas, inclusive of therapy room and lounge, provide sufficient sightlines for staff to safely manage the wards without compromising the user’s dignity and choice. It was important that these areas provide a light, airy and calming environment, therefore meaningful consideration was undertaken in the choice of subtle tones and natural finishes to avoid over-stimulation and provide a calming and inviting setting.

Vistas out, and access to the garden are important for the users.  This was create with curtain walling and access doors into a secure garden. Point of interests i.e. fixed seating positioned by the windows, for private areas to have a connection outside.