A High Wycombe NHS site will get a 5m high fence to protect ‘at risk’ patients and staff after Buckinghamshire Council approved the plans.

The new anti-climb ‘secure’ fencing at Saffron House, Easton Street, was signed off by planning officers this week.

The site is a mental health hub for children and adults, which began to attract anti-social behaviour issues while it was vacant, before it was taken over by the NHS.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Buckinghamshire’s mental health services, said a ‘new secure fenced entrances’ at the rear fire access pathway and the rear secondary entrance off Birdcage Walk were necessary to protect people at the site.

Its plans read: “With both of these being secluded the areas continue to have issues with anti-social behaviour and the environment in these locations is putting patients, staff and the public at risk.”

Its proposals for the site include ‘controlled gates to ensure the areas can be maintained in a safe an appropriate manner’.

The fencing proposed is the ‘Fortress 80’ model, which is made from ‘hard drawn 4mm steel wire’ and comes with ‘clamp bars and tamper-resistant bolts’.

The fencing will be a maximum height of 5.2m and features ‘secure mesh panels in standard green colour’.

Saffron House was formerly an office of Buckinghamshire County Council.