Londoners urge for cancer hospital not to be expanded because it will ‘block sunlight’

Residents in west London have hit back at claims they’re ‘heartless NIMBYs’ after they objected to plans to expand a cancer hospital near their homes.

The Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, a world renowned cancer hospital, has applied to Kensington and Chelsea Council to build a new medical centre in a disused car park on its grounds. 

In the application, it want to demolish the existing Oratory Building, Grove House, Theatre 8 of the Chelsea Wing and structures within the Stewarts Grove Car Park to build the six-storey high new building, a ‘frontage’ building, a winter garden plus parking and a service bay area.

The application has been lodged after three phases of public consultation from 2024 to 2025, where they received feedback from local residents, councillors, patients, staff, volunteers, supporters and community groups.

But now it has been criticised by residents in surrounding streets who say the building will ‘dwarf’ their homes and block their light.

They also complain that the building works will cause years of excessive noise and pollution from site works and more congestion on the roads around their homes in the area around Fulham Road where the hospital is based. 

Residents in Guthrie Street will be some of the most affected as the new building will be just yards from their doorstep. 

The row has become emotive as those against the plans have been accused on social media of being NIMBYs – which refers to the phrase ‘Not In My Backyard’ – as their critics question how anyone could oppose a cancer hospital expansion. 

In response to a letter of objection drawn up by local objectors which warn of ‘five years of pollution, dust, and traffic disturbance’ as well as lack of privacy and congestion, one person posted on X: ‘A group of NIMBYs have courageously grouped together to block the development of … a cancer hospital.’

One nurse at the hospital, who did not want to be named, told Metro: ‘I think it’s heartless and yes Nimbyish. We are trying to treat cancer patients here.’

But the residents say they are not against a development but that it is too large. 

A resident of Guthrie Street, 48, who works in property, told Metro: ‘We think the building they are planning is far too large and will cause real problems for people like me living in the area.

‘There’s already a lot of noise as we are between the Royal Marsden Hospital on one side and the Brompton on the other. The machinery of a hospital is very loud and I think having this building so close to us is going to be a nightmare.

‘There’s also the loss of light as it will loom over us and the traffic will be terrible. It’s already a very area and this would just add to the mayhem. Of course we are not against the hospital as such it’s just the size of this development.’ 

Another resident, 55, works in finance, said: ‘We are not NIMBYs. We are supportive of the hospital. It’s just the scale of these plans that’s the problem. There’s been an assessment that one street will lose 40 per cent of their light. Also there will be pollution from the vehicles working on the construction and it will go on for years.

‘This will not be good for the local community. We appreciate that the hospital does amazing work but we do not think these plans have been properly thought out and we do not feel as if we are being listened to by Kensington and Chelsea Council.’ 

A mother-of-two, who lives just yards from the hospital, added: ‘It’s going to make our lives hell. The number of vehicles in and out of the nearby hospitals already clog the roads, such a large expansion will cause more misery and make our lives hell. Of course the hospital is vital but the local infrastructure can’t take the strain of this proposed, imposing building.’ 

The development would include a parking area and winter garden as well as the six storey medical centre. 

But not all locals are against the expansion of the hospital. 

A student, 22, who lives on one of the roads affected, told Metro: ‘My grandmother was treated at the Marsden. There is a bigger picture here. They do wonderful work. Obviously it’s going to be disruptive but it’s a hospital and has been here a long time. ‘

The Royal Marsden was established in 1851 as the worlds first hospital dedicated to cancer care. 

The application, which was lodged on April 10, is still in the consultation stage. It will be heard by the council’s planning committee at a date in the future. Members of the public have until May 22 2026 to lodge their thoughts.

So far, online, there have been 15 objections and 22 comments in support of the application.

In a statement on their website, the hospital said: ‘At The Royal Marsden, our vision is to deliver world-leading research, diagnosis, treatment, and care while improving outcomes for everyone affected by cancer locally, nationally, and internationally.

‘To achieve this and create a hospital fit for the future, we are proposing to expand capacity in Chelsea which will allow us to support world-leading research and offer state-of-the-art technologies that better serves both patients and staff.’

‘Our proposals will deliver: Pioneering future world-leading research breakthroughs – Delivering practice-changing approaches to treating cancer, enabling faster diagnosis and increasing the number of clinical trials to help develop personalised and more effective treatments.

‘Enhanced patient experience – Enabling co-located facilities and state-of the-art technologies within a modern building that works for patients and staff whilst respecting the rich heritage and history of our Chelsea site.

‘Faster precision diagnostics for patients – Including integrated diagnostics, pathology, genomics and radiology with the latest digital capabilities to diagnose cancer earlier and guide more personalised treatment plans for patients.

‘Modernised and increased clinical facilities – Enabling us to further develop precise, research led surgical and clinical approaches that improve survival and quality of life for cancer patients globally.’

A statement from Kensington and Chelsea Council said: ‘We have received a planning application for the Royal Marsden hospital and are currently consulting on it with local residents and stakeholders.’ 

Metro contacted the hospital for comment.

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