Local Mother and Baby Unit shortlisted for National Design Awards

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has announced that Seren Lodge, its specialist Mother and Baby Unit in Chester, has been shortlisted for two prestigious categories at the Design in Mental Health Awards.

The awards celebrate the projects, products and people driving meaningful change in mental health environments, recognising innovation, collaboration and the positive impact of design on care. 

Delivered through a partnership between CWP, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England and NHS Wales, the project transformed a disused training centre into a modern, eight-bed inpatient facility designed specifically for mothers, babies and their families. The unit was designed by Gilling Dod Architects and built by Read Construction 

Seren Lodge is the first specialist MBU of its kind supporting families across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales. It provides compassionate care for pregnant and postnatal women experiencing severe mental illness. 

Approximately one in four women will experience a mental health problem during pregnancy or within the first year after birth, and up to four in 1,000 will require admission to a specialist unit like Seren Lodge (NHS England). 

Prof Sapre, Clinical Director for Perinatal Services at CWP and Joint Clinical Lead for the Cheshire and Merseyside Specialist Perinatal Service, said: 

“Seren Lodge is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through genuine partnership working. By bringing together clinicians, partner organisations and women with lived experience from the very beginning, we’ve been able to shape a service that is not only clinically safe, but truly responsive to the needs of mothers and families at a very vulnerable time in their lives.” 

A key strength of Seren Lodge is its commitment to co-production. Clinical staff, architects, designers and Experts-by-Experience worked closely together from the earliest stages to shape every aspect of the unit. 

Jocelyn from the Helix, Lead Provider Collaborative, Experts by Experience Forum said: 

“Being involved in the design of Seren Lodge has been incredibly meaningful. It’s a space that feels calm, welcoming and human, and it’s really empowering to see how lived experience has directly influenced decisions that will support other mums through their recovery.” 

The name “Seren,” meaning “star” in Welsh, was chosen by mothers with lived experience, symbolising hope and recovery. 

The design balances clinical safety with a warm, therapeutic environment, including family spaces, gardens and areas for rest and connection. 

Graham Wood, CWP Capital Projects Manager, said:

"What makes Seren Lodge so special is the level of thought that has gone into every detail, from the layout to lighting and furnishings. These may seem small, but they have a real impact on how safe, calm and supported women feel when they come into the unit.” 

He added: 

“Our aim has always been to reduce the stress of admission as much as possible, creating an environment where mothers can focus on recovery while staying close to their babies in a supportive, homely setting.” 

This national recognition highlights how collaboration and lived experience can transform mental health care for families.

Pictured - People at opening celebration of Seren Lodge: L-R: Tim Welch, CEO of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Nia, Expert by Experience; Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Sherin Akhtar; Louise, Expert by Experience and Jocelyn, Expert by Experience.