Kingston upon Thames Council's Planning Committee has approved plans for a new three-storey healthcare rehabilitation centre at Warren Park Children's Centre on Kingston Hill. The decision, made on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, will see the demolition of existing buildings to make way for the facility, which will offer pre- and post-operative care.
The new centre will provide 52 beds, with 29 private bedrooms on the first floor and 23 on the second, and is expected to create approximately 70 jobs. It aims to support patients' recovery after surgery, enabling them to regain mobility and confidence before returning home. The facility will offer services including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and rehabilitation, addressing a need for step-down care within the borough. The applicant stated that the centre is run by a family-owned operator with a proven track record, with a sister facility in Guildford having treated over 10,000 patients since its opening.
The application faced objections from local residents, particularly concerning the scale, massing, and height of the proposed building, its potential impact on daylight and sunlight, privacy, and noise. Concerns were also raised about parking pressures in the surrounding residential streets and the visual impact on Richmond Park.
Addressing Resident Concerns
To mitigate potential impacts on daylight, sunlight, and privacy for neighboring residents, several measures have been incorporated. A Daylight and Sunlight report assessed 59 windows across nine properties, concluding no significant loss of light. For two rooms that fell slightly below benchmarks, supplementary assessments deemed the impacts minor and outweighed by the scheme's benefits. The building's radial layout and setbacks are designed to maintain good relationships with neighbours, with a 25m separation from Ladderstile Ride properties provided by a green roof and conservatory. Conditions for obscure glazing and restrictions on terrace use during unsociable hours were recommended. The design also aims to provide good visual and physical connectivity to the natural surroundings.
Regarding parking, the centre proposes 23 car parking spaces, including disabled bays and electric vehicle charging points, along with a dedicated drop-off bay. The applicant's Transport Assessment concluded this provision would accommodate forecasted demand without significant overspill, a view shared by the RBK Neighbourhood Traffic Engineer. However, a condition for securing final details of cycle parking and a potential legal agreement for a parking survey were recommended.
Consultations with local residents included a public event on July 23, 2025, and pre-application engagement with the Council. The scheme evolved in response to feedback, including recommendations from the Design Review Panel. These changes led to a radial building configuration to reduce bulk, setbacks from boundaries, and a lowered eaves height on the elevation facing Richmond Park. Materials and detailing reference local vernacular, and extensive landscaping is proposed to integrate the building into its surroundings.
Plans for managing noise and potential odours from the commercial kitchen include an Environmental Noise Impact Assessment, which found proposed plant noise levels to be significantly lower than background levels. Conditions are recommended to restrict noise from proposed plant and require a post-installation assessment. An Odour Statement acknowledged a high risk from the kitchen extract, leading to a requested condition to secure details of extraction equipment to mitigate impact.
During the meeting, Councillor Rowena Bass, a ward councillor for Coombe Hill, echoed concerns about the impact on residents and the visual amenity of Richmond Park. Residents also voiced objections regarding increased noise, odour from the commercial kitchen, and inadequate parking provision.
However, the applicant's representatives emphasised the need for such facilities and their positive impact on healthcare outcomes. They stated that the design had evolved through extensive consultation and pre-application advice, aiming to be sympathetic to the surrounding context.
The Warren Park Children's Centre development was approved by the Planning Committee with nine votes in favour and one against. The full details of the application can be found in the Public reports pack for the meeting: Public reports pack Wednesday 16-Sep-2026 19.30 Planning Committee.pdf.
