The courts have granted the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea a permission to proceed with a Judicial Review of the Mayor of London’s decision to grant planning permission for redevelopment of the Kensington Forum Hotel.
The legal challenge is brought on technical grounds that the Mayor acted with improper purpose, by not allowing the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government the opportunity to consider calling in the application following the Mayor’s resolution to grant planning permission subject to a legal agreement.
Lead Member for Planning Cllr Johnny Thalassites commented:
“We are backing residents all the way, challenging a decision by the Mayor to grant planning permission against the wish of the community. We will be proceeding with the Judicial Review, now that the judge has said our case is ‘plainly arguable’.
“I’m keen to see new developments that create jobs and generate income but they cannot come at the expense of residents, who have genuine concerns about the plans for Kensington Forum Hotel.”
The original application was submitted to the Council in June 2018 to build a 30 storey, 1,089 room hotel with 46 homes.
The Council’s Planning Committee rejected the application a year ago after more than 750 objections from residents and local organisations.
The review will be heard on Thursday 21 November 2019.
Read more at rbkc.gov.uk.