WORK on a £11.8million mental health unit is underway.

A medium secure unit is being created at Newton Lodge, based at the Fieldhead Hospital in Wakefield.

It comes after the closure of St Luke’s in Crosland Moor earlier this year.

The new Newton Lodge unit will serve people in Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Calderdale, Wakefield and wider Yorkshire.

It will provide specialist care for people who require NHS mental health care in a secure environment.

Dr Adrian Berry, the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s director of forensic services, said: “The redevelopment plan will ensure that our buildings are a suitable environment in which to provide modern, high quality mental health care.

“The plans also enable the expansion of our specialist women’s service; a service that has received national recognition.

“By increasing the number of beds in this service it means that women will be able to receive the care they need locally, rather than having to receive it out of the local area.

“Our redevelopment will also see the creation of a centre for therapeutic activity.

“This part of the scheme is due for completion in March 2012 – and we hope to hold a mini Olympics to celebrate our new sporting and therapeutic facility.”

The redevelopment involves demolishing and rebuilding on the existing Fieldhead site in Wakefield.

It is due for completion in August 2013 and will see a total investment of £11.8milllion, funded by the Trust.

Steven Michael, the Trust’s chief executive added: “The benefits will be felt quickly as the first phase will be completed next spring when we will open an improved dedicated therapy centre, helping us to provide structured, person-centred activity for each individual we care for, aiding their recovery.

“By rebuilding our facilities we will also be able to ensure our estate is meeting our targets for sustainability; protecting the environment and reducing our energy consumption.”

Mr Michael turned the first spade on the site to kick-start the redevelopment project.

Huddersfield no longer has beds for people needing mental health treatment after St Luke’s Hospital at Crosland Moor closed on New Year’s Eve.

All the services have been transferred to Halifax or Dewsbury and District Hospital.

In Dewsbury there is a 30-bed unit, aimed at older people.

A base for the community services, which is around 98% of the Trust’s contact services, has been moved to Folly Hall Mill, just outside the ring road in Huddersfield.