A major redevelopment plan for Tolworth Hospital has been submitted to Kingston Council, with the hope of building a “modern centre of excellence” in mental health care.

Outline permission was granted for work to the site in March 2015, and this application marks the end of a long consultation and workshop process to finalise the plan.

The application reads: “There is a growing public awareness and acceptance of mental illness, but more work remains to be done to break down the stigma and to improve the care of persons suffering from serious mental illness.

“Planning and design of mental health buildings is unique in that service users have a wide variety of needs.”

The application includes plans for three new blocks, with a maximum of two storeys, and the refurbishment of three more, creating nine wards.

Extensive landscaping and garden work is proposed, along with views out onto the surrounding community, to combat patients’ feelings of isolation.

The application reads: “A growing body of objective scientific evidence demonstrates the health benefits of good architecture and attractive environments in improving patient outcomes and reducing incidents on inpatient wards.”

Plans include 270 parking spaces and 80 spaces for parking bicycles.

The three buildings that would remain are 130 Red Lion Road, Woodroffe House and the Acacia Unit, which would be turned into a new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) campus.

In total, 9,530sqm of buildings are proposed to be demolished, and 12,330sqm built.

Comments are open on the application until December 22, and the target date for a decision is February 21, 2018.