Published: Friday 10 May 2024
Enforcement notices were served on 8 May 2024 which require two houseboats – The Zephyr and The Pacifica – to be removed permanently from the moorings within the next eight months. The notice is due to take effect on 19 June 2024 unless an appeal is lodged with the Planning Inspectorate beforehand.
Cllr Gerard Hargreaves, ward councillor for Chelsea Riverside, said:
“Chelsea Riverside is a uniquely beautiful neighbourhood on London’s iconic riverside and enforcement notices have now been served against these mega-boats, which are no way in keeping with the landscape. The community has felt very strongly that action should be taken – a position I have supported, along with my fellow ward councillors. I have admired the community’s resilience, dignity and perseverance throughout the process.”
On 19 December 2023 the planning applications committee considered whether a breach of planning control had occurred by the introduction of three significantly different houseboats, due to their size, form and configuration as two self-contained units. Committee decided that a material change of use of the land had occurred.
On 27 February 2024 the planning applications committee decided that the breach of planning control was harmful and authorised enforcement action requiring the removal of the 3 houseboats. Since then, one of the houseboats has been removed and not returned.
On 7 May 2024 the Committee decided that a material change of use of the land had still occurred on the basis of the mooring of the two houseboats, The Zephyr and The Pacifica. They decided that the unauthorised use was harmful for the same reasons and authorised enforcement action.
Read more about the first committee meeting on the matter in December.
Watch the February meeting where councillors resolved to enforce and read the papers.