SIG Penrose Appointed as Delivery Partner for New Crisis House

A major new NHS mental health service is coming to Bedford, offering adults across Bedfordshire and Luton who find themselves in a mental health crisis a safe, calmer option in their local community. East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) has begun transforming Kelvin Grove, on Rothsay Road, into a dedicated Mental Health Crisis House, offering people a welcoming alternative to A&E or hospital admission when they need urgent support.

Thanks to £1.5m in NHS England investment and full approval from Bedford Borough Council, the building is now being brought back to life, with doors set to open in spring 2026.

What Is The Kelvin Grove Crisis House?

The new service, delivered in partnership with SIG Penrose, will support adults (18+) experiencing an acute mental health crisis by offering:

  • 11 private, ensuite bedrooms
  • A calm, homely environment designed to reduce distress
  • 24/7 support from experienced care professionals
  • Trauma‑informed, person‑centred care
  • A focus on avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions

The aim is to ease pressure on busy A&E departments and inpatient wards by giving people a space to reflect, stabilise and begin recovery in a setting created with and for those with lived experience of crisis.

Bringing Kelvin Grove Back Into Community Use

Kelvin Grove has long been part of local mental health support, but has stood vacant since 2023. Renovation work, covering the building and its gardens, began in December 2025.

“Kelvin Grove will be a major new asset for local NHS mental health services,” Richard Fradgley, ELFT Executive Director of Integrated Care and Deputy Chief Executive, said. “It will provide a safe, therapeutic alternative to hospital admission, ease system pressures, improve outcomes for local people, and breathe new life into a prominent property in the town.”

ELFT and SIG Penrose, a charity with extensive expertise in community‑based mental health support, will jointly run the service.

A Stronger Mental Health Support Network for Bedfordshire & Luton

Alongside the crisis house, ELFT is investing over £1m, together with NHS England, to expand and upgrade inpatient sensory-friendly spaces across Luton. Together, the new crisis house and the expanded sensory‑friendly inpatient facilities represent a significant step forward for local mental health care. They highlight a shared commitment from ELFT, NHS England, and community partners to build services that are better tailored to moments of crisis and more responsive, compassionate and tailored to individual needs.
This investment marks a significant strengthening of mental health provision across Bedfordshire and Luton, and gives local people more choice, dignity, and support when they need it most.

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