Student groups anxious as College plans lease of Chaplaincy building

Imperial is set to lease 14-15 Prince’s Garden to the preparatory school next door from June 2026. The two interconnected six-storey buildings, located between the Eastside-Southside Halls complex and Hyde Park, are currently used by a range of College services and student groups.  

These include the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, Muslim prayer rooms, and adjoining student-used gardens. Several upper floors also house academic departments linked to chemistry, environmental policy, and the Business School.  

Students and society representatives said they were not consulted prior to the decision, which they understand to be College-led rather than initiated by the Imperial College Union (ICU).  

Faith spaces to be relocated 

Faith spaces currently based at 14-15 Prince’s Gardens – including the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy and prayer rooms for several religious groups – are expected to be relocated ahead of the lease, though precise details remain unclear as plans have not yet been formalised.

The Inside Imperial issue of January 22^nd announced that the College was “exploring a move to the Sherfield Building, where the Chaplaincy would be located closer to other student support services.” 

“Students will be involved in developing the design of the new space – student groups that make most use of the chaplaincy spaces have already been contacted to gather their requirements,” the announcement read.

The move will be part of the transformation of the Sherfield Building into a student-centred space. 

An Imperial College Union (ICU) student representative, who asked to remain anonymous, said that while these alternative spaces are being explored, they would require renovation works to accommodate the needs of the faith groups.

Union President Nico Henry commented that he has visited several of these spaces with the chaplains and property team, mentioning that “student involvement will increase as plans develop”. 

The heads of the Islamic Society (ISoc), Yaqoob Sheikh and Safiyya Ahmed, said they were informed in November that the brother and sister prayer rooms would be moved. They added that they chose not to disclose this information to ISoc members at the time, as they felt there was insufficient confirmed detail to share. 

Their primary concern remains whether decision-makers will adequately account for practical requirements of faith spaces during the relocation, including facilities for ablution, appropriate segregation, speakers, and prayer mat provision. Despite this, they mentioned an overall satisfaction with Imperial’s level of engagement thus far.  

“[The college] promised we would not be without a prayer room over the academic year,” Ahmed said, adding that Imperial had committed to involving ISoc representatives in selecting the new space and maintaining regular communication.  

The also added that, once renovations are complete, the Great Hall will be made available for Friday prayers to ease pressure on the prayer room capacity.  

Other faith groups said they were not informed of the lease until recently. Diane Tassin, President of the Catholic Society, said the society only became aware of the plans “this past week through Felix”.   

“We use the building twice a week – for Mass and weekly Bible study,” she said. “The distance, the garden space, and what Reverend Andrew has worked to build there all matter”. 

Similary, Gagan Singh, President of the Sikh Society, explained that the chaplaincy was used to host many of their events, allowing them to meditate and sing hymns together as part of a Sangat community. 

Tassin said that the Catholic Society has not yet been given a confirmed relocation plan but has been assured it would be moved to “similar facilities”. 

Gardens at risk  

At separate meetings with gardening representatives, Felix understood that the lease is also expected to affect two student-used green spaces: the Chaplaincy Garden and Imperial College Environmental Society’s (ESoc) so-called “Secret Garden”, both located behind the Prince’s Gardens building.  

In recent years, these gardens have undergone significant redevelopment through RE:GEN, a student-run campaigned aimed at improving green spaces across Imperial. The project was led by student Emilio Garcia Pardon and sought to transform the gardens into accessible, functional green spaces for students.  

The RE:GEN team secured £29,000 from the President’s Community Fund, alongside an additional £10,000 from the Studentships Programme for their campaign. This funding was used to introduce permanent infrastructure and improve accessibility, including the installation of a greenhouse, shed, and other resources.  

Student representatives we spoke to said the lease could result in the loss of this infrastructure, despite the recent development plans not yet being fully realised.

Felix understands garden space at the back of Weeks Building will remain accessible to students, and there are plans to move the Chaplaincy garden facilities there. Conversations between the College and relevant stakeholders, including the student chaplaincy garden representative, are ongoing.  

Joseph Buscemi, Head Gardener for ESoc, explained that the leased area currently supports both existing and planned activities for student groups, including meetings, events, and collaborative projects.  

“It’s a shame that the work of a student-led team has been undone by a College decision,” he said. “This space was meant to grow, but instead we’re losing access to it.”

There are also concerns that, if the gardens are used by the preparatory school, they will be covered with astroturf or used as a playground, leading to overuse and soil degradation from daily activity.  

Another ESoc member described the situation as “ironic”.

“Imperial talks about protecting and expanding green spaces,” they said, “but then removes them for investment purposes”.   

Union President Henry affirmed that ICU “is pushing for green space provision to be protected and continue to raise this as a priority.” 

Students involved in the projects said they are now attempting to maximise use of the gardens while access remains and to raise awareness of the potential loss among the wider student body.  

ISoc form for new prayer room requests: https://forms.office.com/e/ss7tJa4PKL