Westminster City Council has submitted a planning application and Listed Building Consent application for the refurbishment of the historic Seymour Centre in Marylebone. Make Architects are the appointed architects for the proposed project, while Collective Planning is the planning consultant.

The Grade II listed building is set to undergo a full refurbishment under the proposals, which include an open plan gym space on the lower ground floor, new studios for spin, aerobics, and other classes, and improved air circulation and ventilation.

Central to the plans is the proposal to bring the Marylebone Library into the Centre, creating a first-class library space over two floors. The ground floor library will include a children's dedicated space and a new café, and there will be additional space for a children's soft play area, buggy parking, and bookable community spaces. The first-floor library will feature ICT facilities and quiet reading spaces.

The upgrade to the sports hall will see new flooring installed to make it more accessible for wheelchair users, and the spa on the lower ground floor will be enlarged. All changing rooms will be improved and modernised, with new male, female, gender-neutral, and accessible changing areas provided. The Centre's popular climbing wall will also receive a refurbishment.

The council has factored in its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2030 into the plans. The refurbished Centre will see improvements to heating, temperature, and ventilation that will lead to a reduction in carbon emissions.

The council has engaged extensively with the local community through a series of events and surveys, with feedback vital in shaping the plans for the future of the Centre to ensure it meets the needs of local residents.

The proposed project is set to commence in early 2024 and complete by early 2026.

Planning application ref. no. 23/02017/COFUL submitted 27.03.2023:

Refurbishment and upgrade of the Seymour Centre to provide leisure (Use Class E(d)), swimming pool (Use Class F2(d), library (Use Class F1(d)), flexible community / office space (Use Class E, F1 and F2), health and fitness studios (Use Class E(d), beauty treatment rooms (sui generis) and a cafe (Use Class E(a)). Flexible use for leisure, community and events spaces in Use Class E, F1 and F2. Refurbishment works to include: removal of the redundant swimming pool tank to facilitate the fitness suite at lower ground floor, relining the existing pool tank, installation of photovoltaics on the inner roof slope and installation of an ETFE 'pillow' roof above the former courtyard and proposed soft play area, removal of the existing roof lanterns and wind catchers in the sports hall to be replaced with new double glazed roof lanterns and wind catchers and installation of secondary glazing to all the windows in the sports hall, removal of roof lantern above swimming pool to be replaced with a new double glazed roof lantern, removal and replacement of existing plant, provision of external private roof terrace (restricted access), minor internal alterations to walls and partitions to facilitate the reconfiguration of uses, improve accessibility with one lift in each core (4 lifts in total plus three platform lifts at first floor) and two new internal upper staircases on the eastern elevation plus two new internal staircases on the south-west of the first floor, external alterations to some windows and fenestration, and provision of cycle parking and waste and recycling facilities. (Linked with 23/02014/LBC).

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