Development around South Kensington station given green light despite over 2,000 objections

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

A council has lost a bid to stop a mixed-use office block and row of flats being built around a station and warned developers against “ploughing on” with the project.

Kensington and Chelsea councillor Cem Kamahli said the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to overturn the council’s refusal for the development around South Kensington station was a “blow” to the more than 2,000 people who opposed the scheme.

On Tuesday, Britain’s top planning body partially approved plans by Transport for London (TfL) and developer Native Land to build 50 new homes and a four-storey building known as ‘The Bullnose’ around the Grade-II station, bringing a reprieve to a long-running dispute with Kensington and Chelsea council, which blocked the proposals in 2021.

The scheme, designed by architect Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, includes the bulldozing and rebuilding of the Bullnose at the front of the station, refurbishing flats and shops along Thurloe Street and new homes on Pelham Street.

The Inspectorate knocked back plans for two retail façades in the underground pedestrian passage linking the station with museums on Exhibition Road saying the design clashed with the heritage-tiled appearance of the subway.

Cllr Kemahli said though he recognised the station needed development, the one being proposed allegedly risked ruining South Kensington’s “recognisably distinctive and much-loved character”.

He urged TfL to fully fund step-free access at the station before ripping into designs for the Bullnose on X.

Alasdair Nicholls, chief executive of Native Land, said the decision “brings a drawn-out planning process to a positive conclusion”.

He said: “This is a high-quality scheme that will protect the heritage of the station while bringing a renewed sense of place to South Kensington.

“When complete, it will create an experience befitting the gateway to London’s internationally renowned museum and cultural quarter.”

A TfL spokesperson said it is committed to delivering station capacity upgrade works at South Kensington and will begin discussions on raising funds for the project.

The council blocked the development in November 2021 citing concerns about the height and impact of the proposal on the local conservation area. TfL and Native Land appealed the decision and an inquiry was held between January and May this year.

In its decision, the Inspectorate said the Bullnose could be redeveloped because the heritage listing made clear it was not of any special interest and said the proposed height of the new building was not out of scale with the area.

It said flats along Pelham Street would replace previously demolished homes and that the refurb of flats and shops to the north caused “less than substantial harm”.

However, the planning body ruled TfL and Native Land could not start the development until they could show they had sufficient funds to carry out the step-free access works. It said step-free access had to be provided before the Bullnose was demolished.

There is an expected six week window during which time the decision can be challenged in the High Court.

Pictured top: A CGI of the development along Thurloe Street looking South West (Picture: Native Land and Places for London)