Please oppose the planning application for change of use of 41 Connaught Square

Connaught Square General Practice is asking for your support to oppose a planning application by our Landlord,the Church Commissioners, to change the ​ use of our practice premises at 41 Connaught Square, from ‘medical’ to ‘residential.’

Time is short as comments must be received by City Council Planning Dept ( 64 Victoria St, SW1E 6QP) by Tuesday 18th February 2020. ​

Please visit idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications and type in the reference number 20/00313/FULL and 20/00314/LBC for further information.

If you wish to leave a comment, you may do so by writing to Ms Amanda Coulson, Planning Department, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, SW1E 6QP or via email to [email protected] by 18th February 2020.

Connaught Square Practice has been an NHS General Practice since the start of the NHS in 1948.We currently have over 8000 registered patients.All aspects of the Connaught Square Practice are rated as GOOD by the Care Quality Commission ( CQC). We are the only NHS GPs on the Hyde Park Estate and are open 7 days per week

I understand the Church Commissioners are suggesting CSP moves to a new development in Sussex Gardens. We have been in discussion with their representatives for over a year about this. Last November we asked for the proposals to be put in writing, but only received them In mid January this year.

We met with one of their representatives on 30th January 2020 and, based on their written proposals, said we would have to oppose the Landlords application to change the use of 41 Connaught. The notice of the planning application was placed on a pole on the pavement adjacent to 41 Connaught Square the day after we met with the Church’s representative , on Friday 31st January.

My opposition to the freeholders planning application is based on 3 elements in particular:

1) the terms of the new lease for the premises in Sussex Gardens are different from our current lease in Connaught Square and might make the new Sussex Gardens premises unaffordable for the NHS

2) the Sussex Gardens premises currently exist as architects drawings only

3) the draft agreement proposed by the Landlords states that ‘all letters or submissions’ regarding the development ‘being subject to the Landlords approval prior to submission.’ If we agreed to this any concerns that Connaught Square Practice might have during the process of the development could not be brought to the attention of patients or NHS England without the Church Commissioners permission.

I see on the Westminster Planning Applications website that the date of submission by the Church was 17th January 2020, 2 weeks before I had the opportunity to discuss their written proposals with the Church’s representatives.

I hope you will support our opposition to the current application by the Church Commissioners to obtain change of use for 41 Connaught Square W2 2HL from medical to residential use.

Connaught Square Practices first priority is to continue to offer a responsive, accessible and high quality NHS General Medical Practice. We believe the current application by the Church for change of use of our premises could pose a significant threat to that.