Go ahead for major canalside development

Kensington and Chelsea's planning committee has give the go-ahead for a major development which will see more than 2,500 homes built on the former gasworks site to the rear of the large Sainsbury's supermarket on Ladbroke Grove. The development, known as Project Flourish will include offices, shops, a leisure centre and a public park.

Of the 2,500 new homes, 500 will be classed as affordable with 342 of those offered for social rent and 158 at intermediate rent. This 20% total of affordable homes is less than the Council's usual 37.5% target for new developments but is said to be the most that is financially viable for the project.

Developer Ballymore have partnered with Sainsbury’s to finance and build the new estate which will include tower blocks up to 29 storeys tall. Trellick Tower, currently the tallest building in Kensington and Chelsea at 98 metres, has 31 storeys.

The development will encompass the demolition of Sainsbury's supermarket, to be replaced by a new store. The Canalside Activity Centre, with its 16 social rented homes above, and Canalside House, home to voluntary organisations, will also go.

According to the BBC, Historic England and others have expressed concern about the height of the towers. The Council recognised that there would be, "some overshadowing of the Grade I-listed Kensal Green Cemetery and parts of the canal towpath but said the benefits outweighed the harms."

In the run up to the planning committee's positive decision, the council received 1,800 objections and 1,673 letters of support. Opposition to the project included concerns about limited transport links and potential contamination from disturbance of the site which contains toxic material from the old industrial gasworks that operated there.

John Mulryan, group managing director at Ballymore said Project Flourish would be "game changing not just for the people who'll move here, but for thousands of residents in the wider community".

Vocal opposition to the development has come from campaign group Keep Kensal Green which is considering a legal challenge to the Council's decision.

The proposal will now go to the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, who can either endorse the Council's approval or call in the application for further review.

Keep Kensal Green

Project Flourish