Agenda item

St Bart’s Hospital.

St Barts Hospital

With the Chairman’s agreement this item was taken as an urgent item of business.

The Chief Planning Officer introduced the application concerning planning permission to extend the Old Pathology Block and refurbish both the Pathology Building and Residential Staff Quarters building bringing them back into long-term healthcare use and provide a new private healthcare facility.

Peter Schmitt spoke in objection to the application on the grounds that the change of use of the Pathology Block to clinical operations was unsuitable, there had never been a private hospital on the Barts site, the rebuilding of the rear wall 3m further out would have a harmful impact on the facade of the Grade-1 Listed North Wing.

‘The scheme falls short of what is needed for the functioning and viable future of the Great Hall. The shortfalls of the scheme are; the basement catering area is below the minimum for a fully serviced kitchen, there are no catering loos, changing rooms or link to the Barts Archive, the ground floor shows the catering lift discharge directly to open air, the first floor link to the North Wing is narrow. The proposal will jeopardise the future of the historic Barts Archive’

Alwen Williams, CEO of Barts Health NHS Trust, Ian Haig, Heritage Trust and Caroline Smith, Executive Board member, Nuffield Health, were heard in support of the application which would provide new private healthcare facilities and return two vacant buildings bringing them back into long-term healthcare use. The refurbished buildings would provide acute hospital facilities, diagnostic treatment and health assessment services. These services would support NHS treatment, providing a healthcare provision to patients and would assist in retaining medical staff at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

The majority of members spoke in support of the application which they considered would be an asset to the City, and which would provide much needed healthcare provision.

RESOLVED - That planning permission be granted for the above proposal in accordance with the details set out in the attached schedule subject to:

1)    Planning obligations and other agreements being entered into under Section 106 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 in respect of those matters set out in the report, the decision notice not to be issued until the Section 106 obligations have been executed;

2)    That your Officers be instructed to negotiate and execute obligations in respect of those matters set out in "Planning Obligations" under Section 106 and any necessary agreements under Section 278 of the Highway Act 1980.