Chivas House

A two-stage planning strategy to bring a vacant riverside office building in Fulham Reach Conservation Area back into active use as a 45-bed luxury care home.

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Project brief

Chivas House occupies a prominent riverside position within the Fulham Reach Conservation Area in Hammersmith.

The building had previously been used as offices but had remained vacant for approximately six years before the planning application was submitted. Planning policy therefore required robust marketing evidence to justify the loss of the existing office use.

The proposals sought to bring the building back into active use as a 45-bed luxury care home, with strong local support and no political objections raised in response to the scheme.

Project scope
45-bed luxury care home
0.17-hectare riverside site
Vacant former office building
Fulham Reach Conservation Area
Five car parking spaces
Façade and internal works strategy
Nexus role

For contractual and programme reasons, Nexus implemented a two-stage planning strategy to secure approval for the development.

The first stage secured the change of use and proposed landscaping improvements. This application was supported by marketing evidence demonstrating that continued office use was no longer viable in this location, alongside a Care Home Needs Assessment evidencing a clear need for additional care bed spaces within the Borough.

A second application was subsequently prepared in 2026, focusing on façade enhancements to better integrate the building with the surrounding Conservation Area, together with minor external and internal works needed to accommodate the approved care home use.

Two-stage strategy A planning route shaped around contractual and programme requirements.
Change of use Securing the principle of care home use and associated landscaping improvements.
Marketing evidence Evidence demonstrating that continued office use was no longer viable in this location.
Care need A Care Home Needs Assessment evidencing the need for additional care bed spaces in the Borough.
River wall matters Resolution of concerns relating to the river wall, structural integrity and future flood risk.
Conservation design Façade enhancements inspired by London’s historic wharf buildings and industrial heritage.
Outcome

Despite an extended determination period of almost 12 months, the first application was granted planning permission in late 2025 after key matters relating to affordable care bed spaces, river wall integrity and flood risk were resolved.

The subsequent application progressed the design and delivery strategy for the approved care home use, including façade enhancements and internal and external works to support the building’s reuse.