Armley community invited to view plans for new mental health facility at Parkside Lodge

People are being invited to comment on plans to re-develop a mental health facility in West Leeds into a new unit to improve care for men across West Yorkshire.

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust wants to hear the opinions of local people about its plans to convert Parkside Lodge in Armley into a new mental health facility before it applies for formal planning permission.

An artist impression of the proposal can be found below:

An artist impression of the new development at Parkside Lodge

Two public consultation events will be held on 29 and 30 November to explain the proposed changes to the existing buildings. In the past Parkside Lodge has been home to the West Yorkshire Perinatal Mental Health Mother and Baby Unit, and before that it was an inpatient unit for people with learning disabilities.

Dawn Hanwell, Chief Financial Officer & Deputy Chief Executive at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our proposal aims to improve the health and lives of men with mental health problems to live independently in the community.

“Parkside Lodge has been home to a mental health facility for many years. We are looking to convert it into a safe and nurturing environment where men with a range of difficulties can rehabilitate and live their lives to the full again.

“One of our main aims is to provide care closer to home for local residents across West Yorkshire. Some of the men who’d receive care at Parkside Lodge are currently receiving inpatient care in independent hospitals miles from home.

“We’ve worked with Leeds City Council, service users and a wide range of experts to develop the scheme, using the latest Best Practice for Mental Health inpatient environments.”

Local residents, businesses and other local representatives are being invited to attend. The project team will be on hand to explain the proposal, listen to comments and answer questions.

More information about the proposed scheme, how to book onto the events, and a short questionnaire enabling people who cannot attend the events to give their views, is available on the Trust’s website.

Questions about the development or the consultation events can be emailed to the Project Team at Complexrehab.lypft@nhs.net.