Planning applications for the first phase of Kensington and Chelsea’s New Homes Delivery Programme to build 600 new homes on council-owned land, including at least 300 at social rent, have been submitted.
The applications are for 94 new homes across four developments in the north of the borough, located on Kensal Road, Acklam Road, Hewer Street and St Helens Gardens.
The developments included in the Stage One planning application are: Kensal Road – 37 new homes (27 social rent, 10 intermediate rent); Acklam Road – 28 new homes (16 social rent, 12 open market rent); Hewer Street – 20 new homes (10 intermediate rent, 10 open market rent); St Helens Gardens – 9 new homes (2 social rent, 2 intermediate rent, 5 open market rent).
If the plans are given the go-ahead by the Council’s planning committee following a statutory consultation period, construction work will begin late 2020 and the first residents will move into their new homes by mid-2022.
Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Grenfell, Housing and Property, commented: “Building new homes and maximising the number of affordable units in such an area of high land values is of paramount importance, and these planning applications are 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 300 social homes will give some of our most vulnerable residents a secure, permanent home.
“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 at Kensal Road and Acklam Road also include community, employment and retail space.