Change of Use from Office to Health Centre Approved by Southwark
Change of use from B1 office to D1 medical facility near Borough and London Bridge stations in the London Borough of Southwark, using a dual-use strategy to address employment retention policy concerns.
PLANNING APPROVALSSOUTHWARKLONDON
Andrew Ransome
6/18/20262 min read
In 2016, the London Borough of Southwark approved a change of use from B1 office to D1 medical facility near Borough and London Bridge stations.
The case was resolved by demonstrating compliance with nine policy criteria in Southwark's Core Strategy, proposing a dual B1/D1 use to safeguard employment retention, and making a clear case for the sustainable reuse of a vacant office to serve a commuter hub.
Planning in Southwark
The proposed health centre was part of a planned expansion by an established healthcare provider, extending its network of GP and out-of-hours clinic services across central London.
The site — close to Borough and London Bridge stations — was selected for its excellent transport accessibility and its proximity to a significant working and commuting population.
The planning challenge centred on Southwark's Core Strategy policies for town centre development, which set out nine criteria to be satisfied for change of use applications in this type of location.
A thorough site analysis and policy assessment was carried out, demonstrating compliance with all nine criteria and establishing that the proposal would make efficient use of a vacant commercial building for the direct benefit of local workers and residents.
To address Southwark's concern about the loss of office employment floorspace in a central location, a dual B1/D1 use was proposed.
This retained the B1 designation and allowed the Council to exercise ongoing control over the site, whilst enabling the health centre to operate in practice. The dual-use approach ensured the premises could revert to office use if circumstances changed in future.
Southwark Council approved the application, and the health centre went on to extend high-quality GP services to a greater number of patients in this busy part of London.
Planning Application Advice
If you are planning to establish a medical, health or community use in a location where employment retention policies apply, I can advise on the right strategy. Get in touch to discuss how I can help.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
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Planning Application Information
Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
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