Developers vie for £300m charity development

The charity, which is aiming to provide accommodation for a thousand people including patients, hospital workers and the public, is looking to announce the chosen developer in April this year.

The Founder’s Place scheme, designed by Farrell’s architects, will include 330 private apartment, 231 units providing 407 beds for hospital workers, a 230-bed house for the families of sick children, and a patient hotel.

New urban quarter

‘This is a tremendous opportunity to contribute to Lambeth’s regeneration,’ Sir Terry Farrell, said, ‘with the creation of a new urban quarter for the well-being of staff, patients and their families at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.‘

Lambeth struggle

The development tender follows a struggle with Lambeth council to get planning permission for the scheme. Lambeth Council had rejected it but this decision was overturned by Hazel Blears in October this year.

A spokesman for the charity said it would tender over the next two months, choose a developer in April, and start work in early 2009. It is hoped the development would be finished in early 2012.