Local Doctors Welcome Approval for New Health Centre
Planning committee gives green light to Dolman Road development
Visualisation of scheme from planning application
There has been a positive response from GPs working in the Chiswick area following the approval of a scheme which will deliver a new health centre.
The project, which also includes the building of 55 council flats on Dolman Road, was approved by the Hounslow borough planning committee on Wednesday (31 March). In doing so the councillors were following the recommendation of planning officers.
All three practices currently operating from the site – Chiswick Family Doctors, Chiswick Health, and West 4 GPs – have supported the project.
Reacting to the news, Doctor Venkatesham, of Chiswick Family Doctors, said, “For several years we have felt that the existing building is badly in need of repair and modernisation. The proposal for a brand-new building is welcome news and we are in progressive discussions with all parties involved. We are very much looking forward to providing more and varied services for the community in Chiswick with better facilities housed in comfortable modern premises fit for the future.”
Senior Doctor, Brigitte Unger-Graebar, of Chiswick Health Practice, said, “This is good news for all of our patients as this new building will safeguard future plans to deliver more services to the people of Chiswick and help us to deliver 21st century medicine and treatment from a 21st century building for years to come.”
Key workers including NHS staff will have preferential allocations of the flats in the development which will be available at a social rent. The 55 flats will be accommodated in a six storey C-shaped building and the 2,636 sq m (GEA) of Health Centre floorspace in a four story L-shaped building with a Belvedere on the south east corner above the entrance.
The plans include modern consulting and examination rooms, district nurse facilities, community rooms and staff accommodation – all to be built over the next three years.
A new public community garden, a private landscaped central courtyard, fifth floor garden terrace and gardens, aim to improve the general look and feel of the area.
A reduction in carbon dioxide, above building regulation targets, could be achieved through electric technologies including solar PV and an air source heat pump.
Peter Matthew, Executive Director of Housing Planning and Communities, said, “We are delighted this scheme has been approved as it will help towards delivering our commitment to tackling our homelessness and acute housing needs and deliver our 5,000 ‘Affordable Housing Pledge’.
“The improvements will also create construction jobs in the local area, contributing to the Council’s ‘Keeping It Local’ initiative which is fundamental in helping the borough recover through these challenging times.”
Adrian Powell, Development and Planning Director, NHS Property Services said, “We are delighted that Hounslow Borough Council’s planning committee resolved to grant consent of the planning application and approved the principles of a partnership. This development will have a hugely positive impact on the local area, not only providing high quality social housing for NHS key workers, but a new and improved health facility in which frontline staff can continue to deliver excellent patient care.”
The 20,000 patients registered at the centre will be sent an a temporary basis to the Stamford Brook Centre which is being upgraded. The planning statement issued with the Chiswick Health Centre application says that just two years is envisaged for the relocation but the application for the Stamford Brook facility stated that it could be as high as five years. All GP services would be transferred to the new temporary location.
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April 2, 2021