Kennel Club Agrees Property Move At Historic SGM

The Members of the Kennel Club have agreed to move from their present London headquarters, at a historic Special General Meeting which was held at the Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly.

The Club has agreed to move to a neighbouring property in Clarges Street, following a bid to buy its current Mayfair home, from Chelsfield Partners, as part of a wider redevelopment of the area.

At the meeting, Kennel Club Members agreed ‘to empower the Trustees of the Kennel Club to negotiate the matter to a satisfactory conclusion on terms no less favourable than those presented to the meeting.’

These terms were:-

• That alternative accommodation provided must be freehold and fit for purpose and retain all functionality as 1-5 Clarges Street.
• That any move must be cost and tax neutral to the Kennel Club.
  
  
• That there must be a sufficient incentive figure for the Kennel Club to move.
  
  
• That the Kennel Club and its business must be protected during and after the full term of the development and from latent defects.
  
  
• That the project is to be delivered as scheduled, on budget, and with no material risk to the Kennel Club.

Steve Dean, Kennel Club Chairman said: “We are very pleased that the Members have agreed to this historic move, as it will bring with it £12 million of funding which we can put back in to the world of dogs as part of our ongoing work to ensure the health and welfare of all dogs.

“This money will be invested wisely, and all decisions on how to utilise it will be given careful consideration to ensure that we get the maximum benefit from the great opportunity which is before us.

“I would also like to assure Members and anyone else who uses the Kennel Club and its many services, that we will be working hard with our partners throughout this moving process to keep any disruption caused to an absolute minimum.”

The Kennel Club has been at its present address of 1-5 Clarges Street for over 50 years, since purchasing it in 1957, with the freehold acquired in 1964.

The Kennel Club’s new home will be within Clarges House, which will be completely renovated and refurbished before the Kennel Club moves. The proposed date for the move is 2014, with more precise information to be provided nearer to the time.