Green light for new council homes in Kensington and Chelsea

Plans for the first phase of Kensington and Chelsea’s ambitious New Homes Programme to build over 600 new homes on Council owned land, including at least 300 at social rent, have been approved by planners.

The applications approved are for 97 new homes across four developments in the north of the borough, located on Kensal Road, Acklam Road, Hewer Street and St Helens Gardens.

The homes will be offered at various tenures, including 49 at social rent, 22 at intermediate rent – which could be used by keyworkers – and 26 at market rent levels.

The homes form stage one of the Council’s new homes programme, with public consultation on potential stage two sites due to begin this autumn. Planning applications for the stage two sites are expected to be submitted in Spring 2021.

Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Grenfell, Housing and Property, said:

“Building new homes and maximising the number of affordable units in such an area of high land values is of paramount importance, and this planning application is an important first step.

“We have the second highest level of homelessness in London and although the Council does not have enough land to build our way out of this crisis, these social homes will give some of our most vulnerable residents a secure, permanent home.

“We want to provide quality housing for residents from all backgrounds and it is important that these plans deliver a mixture of tenures, including 49 at social rent and 22 at intermediate rent, which could provide a home for our keyworkers.

“It is important for the Council to set standards within our own programme that we would like to see from other organisations developing in the borough.”

The developments passed in the Stage One planning application are:

• Kensal Road – 37 new homes (27 social rent, 10 intermediate rent)
• Acklam Road – 32 new homes (20 social rent, 12 open market)
• Hewer Street – 20 new homes (10 intermediate rent, 10 open market)
• St Helens Gardens – 8 new homes (2 social rent, 2 intermediate rent, 4 open market)

In addition to the new homes, the developments at Kensal Road and Acklam Road include community, employment and retail space.

The Acklam Road development includes a community room for residents in the neighbouring Swinbrook Estate and a separate space for Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, while the Kensal Road site will provide community and retail space.

Enabling works are due to begin by the end of 2020, with the first homes expected to be ready for residents during 2022.

Artilce published on RBKC website https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/newsroom/all-council-statements/green-light-new-council-homes-kensington-and-chelsea