Change of Plan for Former College on Fulham Road
Could now become flats due to 'little interest' in previous schemes
517-523 Fulham Road. Picture: Google Streetview
October 14, 2024
The former Chelsea Independent College at 517-523 Fulham Road could be redeveloped and converted to create seven new flats after previous plans for medical, nursery and other uses all received “little interest”.
The substantial building opposite the western entrance to Chelsea Football Ground has been empty for the last four years since the college was incorporated into Kensington Park School, making the Fulham site redundant.
A planning application submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham Council envisages:
“ Redevelopment of the site to include, change of use of the existing property from a school (Class F1) to a mixed use (Class E) at basement and ground floor level and conversion of first, second, third and fourth floor level into 7no. self-contained flats (Class C3),"
Alterations would include "removal of existing fire escape staircase to the rear of the building, erection of rear roof extension including formation of a roof terrace, erection of rear extensions with metal balconies in connection with its use as a roof terrace at first, second and third floor level, installation of 2no. air source heat pumps, metal door, decking, balustrade, steps, bike gutter, and roller shutter to the rear elevation at ground floor level, creation of residential entrance to the front elevation, and erection of 1.8m high security gate in connection with the formation of a gated side access for bike parking, bike and bin stores at ground floor level; associated alterations."
A Marketing Report supporting the application, produced by local commercial agency Frost Meadowcroft on behalf of Trevellyan Developments Limited, admits there has been “little interest” in the building from potential tenants, despite exploring broader options for commercial use, with enquiries for wellness brands, gyms, furniture showrooms and restaurants.
Planning permission was granted two years ago to an application to change the building from educational to medical use, but that also proved unsuccessful.
The report says: “The property has been fully marketed for an extensive period to Educational, Office, Medical and Nursery occupiers plus other commercial uses, subject to planning.
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“Little interest has been secured during this period and the limited enquiries that have progressed have failed to convert. There is a high level of flexible well specified available commercial floorspace in the local market that has also remained vacant for considerable periods of time.”
And it concludes: “ Without any real prospects of securing an occupier for the whole, a change of use is the only viable option for the property.”
The Fulham Road building is one of a number across our borough, particularly in Hammersmith, currently looking to change from offices to hotels or blocks of flats.
Frost Meadowcroft's report says: “ The broader economic environment, including impacts such as Brexit and the post-pandemic recovery, has created a great deal of uncertainty within the commercial office market. Businesses have become more cautious over long term commitments and lengthened leases, which has in turn effected demand and created over supply of Class E office space across west London.
“The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the introduction of remote and hybrid working solutions, with many corporations reducing their need for large office space as employees maintain their stance for working from home either part-time or full-time."
The planning application, which is currently open for comments, can be seen in full on Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s website using the reference 2024/02201/FUL.
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