A new mental health day centre targeted at reducing suicides is set to be built in Birkenhead.

Plans for a ‘Life Cafe’ at 2A Price Street, where the former Bierhaus pub was located, have been approved by Wirral Council.

The centre could have a real impact in addressing mental health crises which can destroy people’s lives.

In the design and access statement, Mersey Design Group, who represented the applicant Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), said: “The community will benefit hugely as it gains a place that focuses upon ‘Safety’ and ‘Resilience’ in a bid to reduce the amount of suicides and crisis through inclusion and community connection.

“The support offered within the building will include one to one crisis intervention, creative art courses and a community cafe.

“It will be a space that promotes the more positive aspects of the town. It will be an abstinent/alcohol free space promoting culture, creativity, and community.”

The Life Cafe itself will be on the ground floor, with therapy spaces on floor one and offices on floor two.

The new owner of the building is CWP, but the Spider Projects team will be running the service.

The community interest company has been providing services in Wirral since 2007. They run creative arts and wellbeing recovery projects and offer a wide range of courses, therapies and physical exercise sessions.

Mersey Design Group detailed how the centre will operate.

The statement added: “The project will offer social and emotional support when appropriate to people in crisis as an alternative to A&E or other clinical services.

“There will be up to five staff members in the building at any given time. Patient numbers per week and the maximum at any one time are anticipated at 35 per week – but this is hoped to increase in time.”

Addressing opening times, Mersey Design Group added: “Spider would be hoping for 10am-midnight, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”

The building is Grade Two listed and sits within the Hamilton Square conservation area.

This conservation area is currently labelled as ‘at risk’ by Historic England, but Mersey Design Group said that any proposals which aim to improve it are welcomed as a positive contribution.

The group claims the key element in protecting the heritage asset is bringing the building back into use and that the proposed design attempts to match the original building materials as closely as possible.