Lucy’s unveils plans for old health centre site

Lucy’s have now submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the old Jericho heath centre. The building, constructed in the 1970 as St Paul’s has been a bit of a eyesore since 2012 when the doctors upped stethoscopes and moved across the road to the new health centre.

Lucy’s acquired the site in 2015 but then had to cope with something of a legal tangle. The NHS owned the freehold on the ground floor, while the City Council owned the freehold for the eight flats on the upper two floors. To complicate matters still further, three of these flats subsequently passed into private hands as a result of the right-to-buy scheme.

The new development will have offices and shops on the ground floor. As part of the proposals, Lucy’s plans to upgrade five council homes and the three others, while also building nine new flats by extending the building with four stories over what is now a car park at the back of the building. Most occupants of the building will also have access to smart new ‘podium amenity’ on the first floor.

Lucy’s bought out two of the three private owners and if it gets gets planning permission has an option to buy from the City the freehold on the upper floors.

However, the City will retain a 999-year lease on the five council homes. The tenants will be rehoused by the City during the refurbishment and given option of moving back in again. Income from the sale of the freehold will be invested in council housing elsewhere in the city.

City and County Councillor Susanna Pressel says: “It would have been good to have the extra social housing in Jericho, but apparently the economics don’t stack up.”

To see the plans and comment on them logon to the City’s planning applications by clicking HERE. Then enter this application reference: 19/02531/FUL