Mental Health - Adult Acute Units (HBN 03-01)

Update 01 July 2025: This NHS Guidance covers the design of acute in-patient units for adults aged 18 years and upwards and supersedes Health Building Note (HBN) 35 Part 1 ‘The acute unit’ (1996) and Scottish Health Planning Note (SHPN) 35 Part 1 (2001). The purpose of this NHS Guidance is to inform the planning and design of in-patient mental health facilities that are fit for purpose, provide value for money and support the delivery of key service objectives and policy drivers. HBN 03-01 use in Scotland must reference and include all current NHSScotland mental Health Built Environment (mHBE) specific policy and publications, such as:

• NHSScotland mHBE Quality and Safety Policy Letter from Scottish Government Director Letter (DL)2025
• mHBE Quality and Safety Assessment Toolkit Application Guide (ASR300-005)
• Incident Reporting and Investigation Centre (IRIC) Safety notices, Repeatable Room Report, Reduction of Self-Harm Report

Although HBN 03-01 reference section was current at the time of publication (2014), it is each NHS Guidance user's responsibility to confirm their continued currency or update references to today’s equivalent. Typically, at each key stage in a project, the current relevant NHSScotland Policy, Legislation, Standards and Guidance, such as those highlighted above should be re-confirmed for updates by the Project Manager. All NHSScotland Assure Guidance publication queries should be made via the NHSScotland Assure Enquires on the National Services Scotland (NSS) website.

Click here for the archived version of this Guidance.

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