Colliers CRE Planning & Development Team successfully negotiated full planning permission for the conversion of the upper floors of Emmanuel Kaye House from nurse's accommodation to a new operating theatre, together with associated plant, on behalf of King Edward VII Hospital.

The pre-application discussions undertaken with the Council were essential to determine the main planning considerations, which were addressed in the planning submission.

King Edward VII Hospital had identified a need for an additional operating theatre due to the increase in complex surgery, and the reduced length of post-operative recovery periods; these factors meant that the hospital could deal with more patients and the requirement for theatre time had increased.

The application demonstrated that the external alterations would have a minimal affect on the character and appearance of the Harley Street Conservation Area; and by submitting a Noise Assessment Report, confirmed that the associated plant would not have a detrimental impact on residential amenity.

In addition, the new theatre proposal formed part of a wider objective to reorganise and refurbish the hospitals nursing accommodation. As part of our negotiations we were able to put forward a robust case to the Council so that they accepted the loss of the nurses accommodation, as it was to be replaced elsewhere in the hospital and the changes could be controlled by a condition, thereby removing the need for a more complex legal agreement.

Key Factors:

• Demonstrating to the Council how the proposal
related to overall development strategy for the hospital.

• Selecting the noise consultant and liaising with them in
the preparation of the Noise Assessment Report.

• Regular contact with planning officer ensured that the
application was approved at the earliest opportunity.

Contact: Planning & Development Consultancy, 9 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 1HL

Tel 020 7935 4499

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