A new psychiatric hospital unit has been shortlisted for a design award.

The Bethlem Royal’s River House opened in February for patients who need to be treated in a medium-secure environment.

Its six wards of 89 bedrooms are designed around a river theme, symbolising the patient’s road to recovery.

Now the £33.5 million unit, in Monk’s Orchard Road, Beckenham, has been put forward for the Bromley Design Awards, run by the council.

Judges will be visiting the site, which provides psychiatry, psychology, nursing, occupational therapy and social work, before announcing the winner later this month.