Construction could start later this year.
A new Northern Beaches Mental Health Hub will offer 80 beds and be open 24 hours a day.
The $53.2 million dollar facility will have eight stories, and be located at 11 Tilley Lane, Frenchs Forest – a 10 minute walk to the Northern Beaches Hospital. It will house a mix of out-patient and clinical therapy spaces, a gymnasium and café. There will also be a recovery room for electro convulsive therapy treatment.
A previous development application on the site, currently vacant, had been approved for a private hospital. However, interested operators said the floorplate needed to be a minimum of 1,000 square metres for a viable operation.
For this reason, developers CK Frenchs Forest put forward a new submission for the mental health hub, with an average floorplate of 912sqm.
CK Frenchs Forest said in the application that there was a shortfall of 145 mental health beds in the Frenchs Forest, Mona Vale and Gordon catchment. In addition, the number of residents hospitalised for suicide or self harm was trending upwards in the Northern Sydney Local Health District. “The need for health services and in particular mental health facilities is particularly prevalent within the Northern Beaches and greater Sydney region.” The local health district raised eating disorders as a particular area of concern for the Beaches in their discussions with the developer.
In terms of traffic, the consultant report found the hub would generate less than 40 vehicles during peak hour, which is not foreseen to cause any more queuing at nearby intersections, including Aquatic Drive and Warringah Road.
There were several consultations with the local community and surrounding businesses in 2021, with most expressing positive feedback. The applicant also set up a change.org petition to encourage community support for the proposal, which at the time of writing had received 1,647 signatures.
It is believed that an operator has not yet been found, but if the application is approved, construction is expected to commence later this year.
Submissions on the development close 30 May. See nbhealthhub.com.au.