NHS bosses have given their approval to plans to spend nearly £300 million revamping Broadmoor Hospital.

The Department of Health has given the go-ahead to West London Mental Health Trust’s £298 million project to bring the 150-year-old high-security psychiatric hospital up to modern standards.

The decision means the trust can develop its full business case to be submitted to the Strategic Health Authority NHS London in October.

It hopes the project will be completed by 2017 and will feature a 16-ward, 234-bed hospital with space for 210 male patients and 24 flexible beds.

The work will be paid for with money from the trust’s own budgets, selling additional land on the site and Government funding.

The trust’s aim is for the new building to put the hospital in line with the best practice models in the world.

Chief executive Steve Shrubb said: “We’re delighted with the Department of Health’s decision and the opportunity to vastly improve high secure mental health services.

“Modernisation will make a tremendous difference to the hospital’s patients, services and quality of care, whilst alleviating the difficult working conditions our staff have worked extremely hard to overcome.”

Nigel McCorkell, trust chairman, added: “The redevelopment of Broadmoor Hospital is long overdue.

“The buildings have seen very little change over the years whereas psychiatric treatments have radically progressed.

“If hospital staff are to continue caring for men with severe mental illnesses and reduce the risk they pose to themselves and the public, the trust must provide treatment in a modern, safe and secure environment which supports the outstanding clinical and therapeutic care our staff are able to offer patients today.”

The plans have been cautiously welcomed by Crowthorne Village Action Group, which recognises the need for a new facility.

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