An Oxford hospital has submitted plans in preparation for a new mental health research unit. 

Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, has plans for redevelopment which includes the new facility. 

A planning application has been submitted to Oxford City Council for the removal of internal walls and toilet facilities as well as the removal of a partition wall, widening of external doorway and associated works. 

This comes after Oxford West and Abingdon's MP Layla Moran visited the hospital to discuss the scheme. 

The plans for the Warneford Hospital site include a new mental health hospital, a research facility for brain-health research, and a new post-graduate college for the University of Oxford focusing on medical sciences and bio-engineering.

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Warneford Hospital (Image: Damian Halliwell) This project aims to create a new mental health hospital, surrounded by a research and innovation hub, to tackle key issues in brain health.

Warneford Hospital, a Grade II listed building, is the oldest inpatient unit in use across the NHS.

The historic building has not seen many changes over the last 200 years.

In the planning papers for the new scheme, it said: “The Warneford Hospital, part of the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, has served as a mental health facility since 1813. Located in Oxford, the hospital's original listed buildings have undergone numerous extensions throughout their 200-year history. Today, the site continues to function as an active psychiatric hospital, serving the communities of Oxford and Oxfordshire.

“The trust wishes to refurbish room EK019 to create a Mental Health Research Unit in what is currently amenity support facilities by removing the internal extension walls and widening the external doorway to accommodate the necessary equipment needed in the research facility. 

“The proposed scheme aims to establish an enlarged and upgraded Mental Health Research Facility at the Warneford Hospital, designed to significantly enhance its research capabilities. 

“Central to this development is the installation of six -80°C freezers, which will provide long-term storage for vital samples, ensuring their preservation for over 30 years. This proposed development will not only cater to the Oxford area but will also serve as a critical resource for mental health research on a national scale.”

It added: “The existing research facility at Warneford is unique in its role as the only Clinical Research Facility (CRF) in the UK dedicated exclusively to mental health. Its contribution to advancing understanding and treatment of mental health conditions is unparalleled. The proposed enhancements are essential to secure the continuation of this vital work while expanding the facility’s capacity to conduct cuttingedge research. 

“By investing in this project, the Warneford site will be positioned to make an even greater impact on the field of mental health, benefiting both the local community and the wider scientific and medical community across the UK.”

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby