1. What do your plans to redevelop the former London Chest Hospital site include?
Our plans have continued to develop through extensive engagement with the local community and planning officers over the last year.
Overall, our proposals will:
- Provide 274 homes, 50% of which will be affordable housing (by habitable room).
- Create new open space, including public greens, and children’s woodland play spaces, supported by a substantial investment in new greenery and landscaping.
- Deliver a 100sqm flexible commercial space on the ground floor of the South Wing, which could support a café and community events.
- Restore most of the Grade II listed elements on-site, including the main hospital building and South Wing.
- Retain the veteran Mulberry Tree in its current location and better protect it, so it can continue to be enjoyed by local people for years to come.
- Create new pedestrian and cycling routes through the site, to improve connections to the wider area.
2. What did the previous plans to redevelop the site include?
The previous plans for the site were approved by Tower Hamlets Council in 2018 and were comprised of 291 homes (35% affordable housing), as well new public spaces. The proposals also included the demolition of unlisted buildings and the Grade II listed South Wing, as well as the relocation of the veteran Mulberry Tree.
The planning permission was overturned by the High Court in 2020, which ruled that the removal of the veteran Mulberry Tree was illegal.
We have therefore taken the decision to develop an entirely new scheme which is a better fit for the community and takes account of the concerns residents had about the previous proposals.
3. What will happen to the veteran Mulberry Tree?
As part of our plans, the veteran Mulberry Tree will remain in its current location.
We are also looking to add a barrier to the north of the tree, so it is better protected and can continue to be enjoyed by local people for years to come.
4. How many homes will be provided in this development?
274 homes will be constructed, with a better mix of family and affordable properties compared to the previous plans.
5. How high will the building rise to?
The heights for each of the buildings are outlined below – a ground floor plan has also been provided to indicate where they will be located on the site:
- Building A: 7 storeys (including a setback floor)
- Building B: 6 storeys
- Building C: 6 storeys
- Building D: 5 storeys (including a setback floor)
- Building E: 9 storeys (including a setback floor)
- Building F: 4 storeys
The taller elements will be focused on the corner of St James’s Avenue / Approach Road, screened by a large amount of greenery and trees, so as not to adversely affect residents’ views or daylight/sunlight levels.
6. Are you retaining all the current buildings on-site?
Most of the Grade II listed elements – including the main hospital building and South Wing will be retained as part of our plans.
Some of the buildings have however come to the end of their design life and will need to be demolished.
7. What new public, open space are you providing as part of your plans?
We are looking to create public greens with better amenities and relaxation spaces for new and existing residents to use.
A new children’s woodland playspace will also be provided for the whole community to use.
A substantial investment will also be made in new landscaping and planting, to create a more attractive, and welcoming environment.
8. What are the sustainability benefits of the project?
Our proposals will reduce on-site carbon emissions by approximately 81%.
By retaining and repurposing the majority of the Grade II listed elements on the site, we are creating a more sustainable scheme. Materials from any buildings that need to be demolished will also be recycled, where possible.
We are extending the Tree Preservation Order, protecting over 55 mature trees in total.
This will be a car-free development, with the exception of 10 blue badge spaces (meeting DDA requirements), although they will all be fitted with electric charging stations.
Overall, we will be making a substantial biodiversity net-gain, which will ensure the local wildlife and environment continues to be protected and thrive.
9. How will you manage construction works to minimise noise, dust, vibrations and other potential disruptions?
We have submitted a Construction Management Plan as part of the planning application, which outlines how we intend to manage all on-site operations and minimise disturbances to our neighbours.
This will include the installation of monitoring equipment across the site to assess, noise, dust and vibration levels.
A dedicated resident liaison officer will also be appointed, to be the primary point of contact for the community on general updates about the scheme and ongoing operations.
You can download the report here, to see further information.
10. How can I share any final comments on the plans?
To submit any comments directly to the Council, search for the planning application number: PA/24/00184/A1, here.
Alternatively, we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have. You can get in touch with a member of the team by filling out the comments form here, or:
Email: LCH@londoncommunications.co.uk
Phone: 0800 096 7217