London Square has acquired a former care home and convent site next to Royal Hospital Chelsea in London for £54m.
The residential developer purchased the freehold of the 0.74-acre site at 29 Tite Street from the Daughters of the Cross, an international congregation, which established the St Wilfrid’s Convent on the site in 1976.
The convent’s existing buildings are listed as a “negative element” in Tite Street, which forms part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Royal Hospital Conservation Area.
Adam Lawrence, founder and chief executive of London Square, said: “We are honoured to have acquired such an important site in one of the capital’s most historic and magnificent conservation areas. We look forward to working with the local community and the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to deliver a new chapter for the site, returning it to residential use with exceptional design that will enhance and reflect the rich heritage of the street and its illustrious neighbours.”
Sister Veronica Hagen, from The Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross, added: “Daughters of the Cross has supported the vulnerable and elderly in the UK since 1863, while St Wilfrid’s Care Home provided care to its residents for more than 40 years. We are sad to have to say goodbye but the sale of the site will support the continued delivery and development of a wide range of services to vulnerable and marginalised communities wherever the Daughters of the Cross minister.”
Nick Alderman, head of Central London land at Knight Frank, which acted on the sale of the site, said: “Knight Frank worked closely with the Daughters of the Cross to identify a buyer appropriate for this remarkable site and its charitable past. We saw strong interest and a competitive bidding process, which is testament to the rarity of this exceptional site.”
London Square will now commence an extensive consultation with local interested parties and residents in Tite Street and the surrounding area.
