Published: Thursday 21 December 2023
On Tuesday 19 December 2023, the Planning Applications Committee unanimously voted that a breach of planning control had occurred at Cheyne Walk, where houseboats are moored.
The five councillors sitting on the committee disagreed with an officer report which concluded that no breach of planning control had occurred following an investigation. Officers have been investigating whether three larger houseboats required planning permission.
The item was considered at the Planning Applications Committee, after being called in by lead member for planning and public realm Cllr Cem Kemahli.
The Committee believe there to be a material change of use.
Now officers will assess the harm of the breach of planning control. A report with the officers’ findings will go to the planning applications committee in 2024 for consideration on whether enforcement action should be taken.
Cllr Cem Kemahli and Cllr Gerard Hargreaves, ward member for Chelsea Riverside, made representations on behalf of residents at the meeting.
Cllr Kemahli, lead member for planning and public realm, said during the meeting:
“Our beautiful, quintessential riverside in Chelsea is part of London’s iconic fabric. A significant number of residents are of one voice, that they believe that the size and design of these houseboats is going against this character. We as elected members of the Council are here to stand up and support that voice.”
Read the papers for the meeting and watch again on YouTube.