In April 2022, we undertook a pre-application consultation and hosted two live online webinars on Friday 8th April and Wednesday 20th April. You can watch a recording of the online webinar event which took place on Wednesday 20th April below to find out more.
In April 2023, we were granted full planning permission (ref 2022/2255/P) for the new Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) and main entrance for Great Ormond Street Hospital following an extensive pre-application engagement process.
Throughout the pre-application period, we received feedback from our neighbours, the Greater London Authority, London Borough of Camden (LBC) design officers and other stakeholders which helped us to develop our plans prior to submitting the planning application.
Following the granting of planning permission, we have been reviewing the project by way of design development and exploring refinements that can be made to the CCC for the benefit of our patients and neighbours. This includes opportunities to improve the design of the CCC, facilitate the Paul O’Gorman building playing a greater role in the main hospital complex and improving clinical circulation to ensure we can provide the highest levels of care.
This page provides further details on the proposed changes to the scheme along with responses to frequently asked questions.
View from Queen Square as consented
View from Queen Square as proposed
View from Tybalds Estate as consented
View from Tybalds Estate as proposed
Click to enlarge the images
We have identified a number of opportunities to improve the design of the CCC including:
Planning permission for these changes will be sought through the submission of an application to vary the permission granted in April known as a Section 73 Minor Materials Amendments (MMA) application. A Section 73 MMA is an application process that allows changes to be made to planning permissions without the requirement to resubmit the full planning application back to the Council. The application primarily focusses on the changes to be made to the planning permission rather than a complete reassessment of the principles previously approved.
Further information about the proposed amendments and associated benefits is provided below.
In the early twentieth century, the Paul O'Gorman building served as the primary entrance to the hospital and was physically connected to neighbouring buildings, including the Astor building to the east, demonstrating the building’s proven potential to connect to the wider estate in this location.
The subsequent development of the Frontage building separated the Paul O’Gorman building from the wider hospital campus to the east. As a result, the building is currently accessed through stepped entrances from Great Ormond Street and the Variety Club Building, as well as a steep ramp adjacent to the Peter Pan Garden.
The Trust and design team have therefore been investigating the possibility of re-connecting the Paul O'Gorman building to the wider estate by linking it to the CCC, whilst preserving the character of the building and its relationship to the local neighbourhood. Following feedback from our neighbours since the start of design development in 2016, retaining the historic Paul O’Gorman building has become an integral part of the design brief, and we are dedicated to upholding this commitment.
Rather than having two staircases side by side (one for the external escape stair for Paul O'Gorman and one for the west core of the CCC), we are proposing to deliver a single stair and lift core at the rear of the Paul O’Gorman building. This will involve the removal of the north-east rear bay of the Paul O’Gorman building which currently houses meeting areas, tea points, WC’s and stores at present which will be re-provided elsewhere. Physical openings will also be required in the east elevation to provide the link, but the remainder of the Paul O’Gorman building will remain unaffected.
The eastern gable of the Paul O’Gorman building today, showing the markings of the previous connection to the Astor building.
Composite archive drawing to illustrate the connectivity between the Paul O’Gorman Building, the Powis Place Clinical Wing and the Astor Building. The plan form of the Paul O’Gorman remains largely intact today.
The historic link between the Paul O'Gorman and wider estate would therefore be restored by implementing these minor amendments to the permitted scheme, and will significantly improve the layout, access and efficiency of the wider hospital complex. More information on these benefits is provided in the following sections.
Proposed removal of the north-east bay of the Paul O’Gorman building
Permitted and proposed changes to the ground floor layout
Rather than having two staircases side by side (one for the external escape stair for Paul O'Gorman and one for the west core of the CCC), we are proposing to deliver a single stair and lift core at the rear of the Paul O’Gorman building. This will involve the removal of the north-east rear bay of the Paul O’Gorman building which currently houses meeting areas, tea points, WC’s and stores at present which will be re-provided elsewhere. Physical openings will also be required in the east elevation to provide the link, but the remainder of the Paul O’Gorman building will remain unaffected.
The historic link between the Paul O'Gorman and wider estate would therefore be restored by implementing these minor amendments to the permitted scheme, and will significantly improve the layout, access and efficiency of the wider hospital complex. More information on these benefits is provided in the following sections.
Aerial view facing north - As consented
Aerial view facing north - As proposed
Permitted and proposed changes to the west core
It is proposed that the massing is broken up by a continuous brick ‘party wall’ that corresponds with the existing Paul O’Gorman gable wall.
A small number of changes are also proposed to the material finish of the internal northern façade to address long term maintenance concerns, and the external finish of the west and east elevations to better complement the local context.
Proposed changes to the north façade
Proposed changes to the south façade
Proposed changes to the west and east elevations
In response to the revised massing, there is an opportunity to improve clinical circulation in the CCC and provide a connection to the Paul O’Gorman Building at each floor level (ensuring its ongoing use within the hospital complex).
Whereas the wider hospital operates across a horizontal platform where floor levels in various buildings match, the Paul O’Gorman does not. Level changes between the Paul O’Gorman and CCC are proposed with ramps and steps where spatially feasible.
By making the Paul O’Gorman more accessible to the main complex, this will create the option for parts of the building to be used more productively in the future, but they will remain in use as offices for the moment.
The reception area will also be opened to take advantage of the relocated stair core. This will create a physical connection to Paul O’Gorman building to the west of the proposed main entrance space.
Following the granting of planning permission in April 2023, we have been reviewing the project by way of design development and exploring refinements that can be made to the CCC for the benefit of our patients and neighbours. This includes opportunities to improve the design of the CCC, facilitate the PO’G building playing a greater role in the main hospital complex and improving clinical circulation to ensure we can provide the highest levels of care.
The Construction Access and Logistics page has been updated following consultation on the draft DCMP.
Section 73 update and Deconstruction and Construction Management Plan consultation
In July 2023, we completed our public consultation on the proposed Section 73 Minor Material Amendment (MMA) Application, which includes a number of design refinements to improve the consented CCC.
Thank you to everyone who joined our consultation events and provided feedback. The application has now been validated by LB Camden, who will shortly undertake their own consultation on the proposals. You can view further information on the Design updates page and can also view the application on the Camden Council Planning Portal.
Public consultation on the draft Deconstruction and Construction Management Plan: 14 August - 13 September
We completed our public consultation on the revised draft Deconstruction and Construction Management Plan (DCMP) and proposals for temporary highways changes.
The draft DCMP outlines how deconstruction and construction activities will be carried out while ensuring safety and minimal disturbance, and it has been updated to take into account feedback from LB Camden and the S73 proposal.
Further information and a downloadable copy of the DCMP can be found on the construction, access and logistics page.
In April 2023, we were granted full planning permission for the new Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC), allowing us to deliver a national resource for children with rare and difficult-to-treat cancers, and provide the highest levels of clinical care to the largest number of children.
Throughout the pre-application engagement process, we received feedback from our neighbours, the Greater London Authority, LBC design officers and other stakeholders. This feedback helped us to develop our plans and, as is usual on a project of this scale, we have been continuing to review the design and explore potential refinements that can be made to the CCC for the benefit of our patients and neighbours.
We have since identified a number of opportunities to improve the design of the CCC and ensure we can provide the highest levels of care including:
We completed our public consultation on the proposed design changes and a Section 73 Minor Material Amendment (MMA) application which has now been validated by LB Camden who will shortly undertake their own consultation on the proposals.
Planning milestone for the Children’s Cancer Centre
With Camden Council providing the decision notice for the Children’s Cancer Centre, we have now been granted full planning permission for the scheme.
Designed with the needs of children at its heart, the CCC will include outdoor areas and spaces to play, so children can be active and do normal childhood activities. With cancer wards, cancer day care, new theatres and intensive care units co-located specialist teams will be able to work more closely together and it will be quick and easy for children to access the services they need. The building will also house new imaging equipment and a specialised chemotherapy pharmacy ensuring we keep pace with world leading cancer care practice. Alongside the clinical services, the new building gives us the opportunity to create a new entrance for the hospital and to create a new school for the children who come to GOSH.
On Wednesday 8th February 2023, LBC’S planning committee resolved to grant planning permission for the development of the new Children’s Cancer Centre.
The application will now be considered by the Mayor of London. We will continue to work with LBC and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to secure full planning permission for the scheme.
We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to ensure this project leaves a positive legacy for the local community as well as delivering the much-needed facilities at the hospital.
Since the planning application was submitted in May 2022, the project team has reviewed the comments made during LBC’s consultation. Most of the feedback we have received, either directly or on the LBC planning portal relates to:
We have carefully considered all the feedback received and worked hard to address the matters raised, including carrying out number of assessments to determine the best possible plans for residents, businesses, patients and staff. A comprehensive report has been submitted to Camden Council setting out this work as well as a number of changes to the scheme.
We have also updated relevant sections of this website to reflect our revised approach. In addition, as part of the planning process the London Borough of Camden, where needed, is formally consulting on changes to our approach.