Published: Monday 14 February 2022
Environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods and enhanced employment zones will compliment historic buildings in the plans for the future of Kensington and Chelsea.
As London’s second smallest borough with a unique make up of residents, tourists and businesses, the borough is laying out the planning policies which could define it for the next generation.
Residents can have their say on the draft New Local Plan now, which sets out policies which will affect the make up of the borough over the next 20 years, in a consultation running until 23 March 2022.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for planning, place and environment, said:
“Our draft Local Plan is the borough’s blueprint for growth over the next 20 years.
“New policies set out how we will deliver inclusive, sustainable and liveable neighbourhoods - including safe, secure and affordable housing for all, rapid progress towards our net zero commitments, and preserving the buildings and places that make Kensington and Chelsea special.
“From new green spaces, to vibrant high-streets and world-famous attractions — and from protecting our current homes, to earmarking areas for creative employers — we want everyone who chooses to live, work, visit and invest in our borough to help us protect and enhance the environment.”
Policies in the draft Local Plan include measures on greening, homes and employment.
Homes
- Protecting the number of homes by resisting applications to amalgamate homes into bigger houses.
- Setting out locations for tall buildings and defining tall buildings as 21m or 30m or higher based on relative height buildings in different neighbourhoods.
Environment
- New open spaces and parks in Earls Court and Chelsea Riverside
- Developers will have to reduce energy demand in new developments and be designed as net carbon zero.
- An eco-neighbourhood is already under construction in Lancaster West, the estate where Grenfell Tower is.
Business and employment
- Offering flexible commercial spaces to boost jobs in three new employment zones in Kensal Road, Freston and Latimer Roads and Lots Road.
- Protecting town centres, with spaces for businesses to flourish, bringing vacant properties back into use and al fresco dining.
- Support new and existing hotels where there is no loss of homes and resist Airbnbs and other temporary accommodation to protect permanent residential homes.
- Reducing to stock of hotels and removing protections in the SW5 postcode area (Earl’s Court).
The draft New Local Plan is being updated in an early review, to reflect new priorities and values following the Grenfell tragedy and the Covid 19 pandemic. Draft policies have been written following early engagement with residents in 2020 and 2021 on the issues affecting the borough from climate change to biodiversity, flood risk to noise pollution and air quality. More than 1500 people have already taken part in shaping the draft policies in these previous consultations.
Read the draft plan and respond online. Short on time? take part in a short survey on the key issues.
This is the third round of consultation and engagement that the council has undertaken on the new local plan.
Results of the issues (2020) and issues and options consultations (2021) are available online.
This round of consultation is statutory planning consultation, regulation 18. There will be a final round of consultation in Autumn 2022 before the plan is finalised in 2023.