Heatham House Family Hub and nursery plans get green light
Richmond upon Thames Council's Planning Committee has approved plans to convert Heatham House Youth Centre into a Family Hub and outdoor nursery. The development includes the construction of a new standalone building, referred to as a 'Summer House', and the refurbishment of an existing garage.
The decision, made at the Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, grants planning permission and listed building consent for the development. The project aims to provide integrated health, education, and welfare services for families, alongside facilitating the continued operation of an outdoor nursery.
Community Benefits Outweigh Harm
Officers argued that very special circumstances
had been demonstrated to outweigh concerns about inappropriate development within Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and the impact on the setting of the Grade II listed Heatham House. These circumstances include the significant social and community benefits of delivering the Borough's Family Hub programme, the lack of alternative viable sites, the enabling of the continued operation of the existing outdoor nursery, and the improvement of landscaping and ecological features on the site. The Family Hub is designed to offer a single point of access for a range of services including early years support, SEND assistance, family help services, and youth provision, aiming to improve access to information, advice, guidance, and support services, and facilitate early intervention.
Councillor Piers Allen, Chair of the Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Services Committee, spoke in support, highlighting the importance of the Family Hub programme and the lack of alternative viable sites. Councillor John Coombs, Spokesperson for Arts and Culture, also supported the application, noting the respectful treatment of the building and the environmental benefits. The committee voted to approve both the planning application and the listed building consent, subject to conditions and informatives.
Design and Site Considerations
The proposal includes the erection of a new standalone building, the 'Summer House', and the refurbishment of the existing garage building. The Summer House has been re-sited to minimise the loss of mature trees and reduce its visual impact on the setting of the listed building. The garage refurbishment will involve internal reconfigurations and external changes, including new timber windows and brick slips.
The development aims to provide a Family Hub which will serve as a single point of access for a range of services for local children, young people, and families. The outdoor nursery will utilise the new Summer House during adverse weather conditions, ensuring the continued operation of the facility.
Environmental and Heritage Aspects
The plans include measures to retain existing mature trees and vegetation, with additional planting proposed to enhance the site's landscape and ecological value. The design of the Summer House aims to be sympathetic to the character of the Grade II listed Heatham House, utilising materials that reflect the existing building and its setting. The refurbishment of the garage also seeks to improve its appearance and better integrate it with the surrounding environment.
Further details on the planning application and associated documents can be found in the Public reports pack for the Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The Agenda frontsheet for the same meeting is also available.