The Planning and Development Control Committee convened to discuss several planning and licensing matters, including the redevelopment of Ravenscourt Park Hospital, the temporary use of a former laundry site, and various smaller development projects. A key decision was made to defer the approval of the Construction Logistics Plan for Ravenscourt Park Hospital, pending further review.

Ravenscourt Park Hospital Redevelopment

The committee addressed two applications related to the redevelopment of the Grade II* listed Ravenscourt Park Hospital, which has been vacant since 2006: a full planning application and an application for listed building consent. The proposal involves converting the existing hospital buildings into 140 residential units, a 65-bed care home, and flexible cultural and community space, including a cafe. Block E, a non-listed addition from the 1970s, would be demolished and replaced with new buildings (Blocks E and F) to house affordable housing and the care home.

• Decision: The committee voted to grant both the planning permission and listed building consent, but with a condition that the Construction Logistics Plan (CLP) and Demolition Logistics Plan (DLP) be brought back to the committee for further review and approval, rather than being delegated to officers.

  • The motion was proposed by Councillor Patrick Walsh, Chair of the Audit Committee, due to concerns about the impact of construction traffic on local residents, particularly along Ravenscourt Square.

• Key Points Discussed:

  • Loss of Hospital Use: Sinead Winship David, Deputy Team Leader for Strategic Applications Team and the Planning Case Officer for Ravens Court Park Hospital, stated that while the hospital's lawful use remains, there is no demonstrable ongoing need for a hospital at this location, as NHS services have been relocated to Try and Cross Hospital.
  • Affordable Housing: The development includes 21 affordable units (13 social rented, 8 London Living Rent) on site, plus a £2.7 million payment in lieu towards off-site affordable housing. This was described as the maximum viable amount, following an independent assessment.
    • Councillor Walsh asked about the independent assessment, and Sinead Winship David clarified that when an affordable offer isn't fully compliant with development plan policies, the council instructs an external consultant to ensure they are getting the best value and affordable offer possible.
    • Councillor Walsh asked if the independent review explained why it was not viable to go further, and Sinead Winship David explained that the MPPF requires that the council can only secure financial contributions up until the point at which the scheme would become unviable.
  • Heritage Impact: Alan Jones, a colleague of Sinead Winship David, explained that the hospital complex is grade two star listed and has been vacant since 2006. He stated that the heritage statement submitted in support of the application includes drawings that show the significance of each individual block. He added that the detail has been subject to external independent scrutiny by heritage consultants to ensure that the works are considered to be of a suitable nature to ensure full restoration of the building back to its former glory.
    • Stephen Walker, speaking on behalf of the Residents Association of Ravenscourt Square, argued that the proposed buildings, particularly Blocks E and F, are overbearing and discordant, and that they would destroy the existing townscape. He suggested a condition to reduce the height of Blocks E and F to a maximum of four storeys.
    • Duncan Brisbane, development director at TT Group, argued that the proposal represents a rare opportunity to sensitively, sustainably, and inclusively regenerate a nationally important building.
  • Traffic and Access: Concerns were raised about increased traffic on Ravenscourt Square, a partially private road. The revised plans remove a proposed basement car park, reducing traffic. Deliveries will primarily use the historic entrance on Ravenscourt Park.
    • Councillor Walsh raised concerns about the impact on parking for visitors to the care home, and Sinead Winship David responded that there are four visitor parking bays proposed on Ravenscourt Square.
  • Community Use: Block A, the historic administration building, will be used for flexible cultural and community purposes, including a cafe.
    • Councillor Walsh asked what kind of concessions can be made to ensure that this still retains a community function, and Sinead Winship David responded that they have left the heads of terms quite open ended, because they want to make sure they're not being overly restrictive in terms of future uses and occupiers to allow for the developer to take the time that they need to work to identify a suitable user.
  • Boiler House Site: Councillor Pascu-Tulbure asked about the Boiler House, and Sinead Winship David responded that it is a vacant site adjacent to the Chiswick Nursing Centre and is accessed from Ravenscourt Square. She added that it is now under the ownership of the applicant, but no proposals have been made to the council.

Former Laundry Site

The committee considered an application for the retention of existing shipping containers on a former laundry site behind Pennard Road for use as creative and affordable workspace.

• Decision: The committee voted to grant planning permission for a further temporary period of one year, plus an additional three months for the removal of the containers from the site (15 months in total).
• Key Points Discussed:
  • John Sanchez, presenting officer, stated that the application seeks permission for the retention of existing shipping containers on the site for a temporary period for use as creative and affordable workspace units and ancillary storage.
  • Peter James Wheeler, chairman of the Shepherd's Bush Market Tenants Association, spoke in support of the application, stating that this space has been the central part of the market's operational infrastructure since its initial approval in 2020.
  • Louise Page, representing UCapital, stated that the site is used for storage for Shepherd's Bush Market traders and for charities like the Bush Theatre and Flow Happy.
  • Councillor Walsh commented that given that this committee has approved the master plan back last August, this does seem to be a considered extension while preparations are ongoing for the construction of the new Shepherd's Bush market, and that he intends to support this.

White City Living

The committee reviewed a full application for Phase 5 of the White City Living development, involving the erection of a 30-storey building for residential use.

• Decision: The committee voted to grant planning permission.
• Key Points Discussed:
  • Sinead Winship David stated that the application relates purely to phase five of what was the original master plan consent for White City Living, and that it doesn't propose anything additional to what has been previously secured through the outline consent.
  • The proposal is fully consistent with the approved outline parameters and design code.
  • The scheme is generally of a very high quality in terms of residential amenity for future occupiers.
  • The committee approved the application without questions or objections.

Threshold and Union House

The committee considered an application to vary a condition regarding the hours of operation for the rear outside terrace of the Hoxton Hotel, located at 65 Shepherd's Bush Green.

• Decision: The committee voted to grant temporary permission for 18 months to extend the terrace opening hours until 9pm, Monday to Sunday, including bank holidays.
• Key Points Discussed:
  • Neil Egerton, presenting officer, stated that the application is seeking to extend the opening hours of the external terrace until nine o'clock Monday to Sunday including bank holidays for a temporary 18 month period.
  • Roberto Leonadi, general manager of the Hoxton Shepherd's Bush, spoke in support of the application, stating that they are looking to create an outdoor seating area and continue servicing service serving what's there at the moment in a restaurant capacity with operating hours limited to 9pm.
  • The committee approved the application without questions or objections.

Stowe Road

The committee reviewed an application for a single-storey extension to the rear of a basement flat at 18 Stowe Road.

• Decision: The committee voted to refuse planning permission, against officer recommendation.
• Key Points Discussed:
  • Neil Egerton, presenting officer, stated that the application is seeking permission for a single storey extension to the rear of the property and it is effectively an outbuilding with a link corridor to the main house, which effectively makes it a full depth extension to the house.
  • Fiona Petch, the applicant, stated that she and her husband are the co-founders of a 24 person commercial architecture practice based on Goldhook Road. She added that they've built both their business and their family life in the borough over the past 11 years.
  • Councillor Rory Rhee stated that the fine department had no problem with the previous application, and that it's certainly not causing any harm to the neighbors who have written in supporting this application.
  • Councillor Walsh asked if it is consistent with the conservation area for there to be a variation of rear extensions already, and Neil Egerton responded that this is an unusual form of extension within this conservation area.
  • Councillor Pascu-Tulbure asked what the quantum of the harm is, and Neil Egerton responded that the harm is to the open because you are extending the main property out to the rear wall.
  • Councillor Melton stated that it feels like a precedent was already set 18 years ago, and that they're now pushing against that precedent.

Thorpebank Road

The committee considered an application for a rear roof extension and a single-storey rear extension at 21 Thorpebank Road.

• Decision: The committee voted to grant planning permission.
• Key Points Discussed:
  • Neil Egerton, presenting officer, stated that the application relates to 21 Thorpebank Road and the proposal is for the erection of a rear roof extension and the erection of a single storey rear extension following demolition of existing lean-to and then slated three roof lights, the front roof slope and some new doors.
  • The committee approved the application without questions or objections.