The Society has been involved, along with Tite Street residents and the Cheyne Walk Trust, in a series of consultation meetings with London Square, a Middle East owned development company, about their proposals for the demolition and re-development of the former St Wilfrid’s Care Home. Our concerns have focussed on both the use and the design of the new building.
The developers currently intend, contrary to the pre-planning advice they have received from Council officers, not to include any element of care provision or other community use in the building, nor are they offering any on-site affordable housing. Instead they are proposing to build additional underground exhibition facilities under the car park of the next door National Army Museum. The Chelsea Society has welcomed the improvements to the Army Museum, but we do not believe that they should be to the detriment of other priorities.
As regards the building’s design, our concern has been to preserve the heritage and appearance of Tite Street, which is one of the most iconic streets in our part of the Borough. We have therefore, in line with recommendations from Council officers, argued for the retention of the existing garden and townscape gap; and for a lower overall height and less dominant profile than London Square are currently proposing. We understand that a planning application is likely to be submitted in the Summer of 2025.
