Chelsea moorers the merrier after inspectorate ruling goes in their favour

By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter

The Planning Inspectorate has quashed a council decision to evict two large houseboats from moorings at Chelsea Reach Harbour.

Kensington and Chelsea issued enforcement notices to the large boats, The Zephyr and The Pacifica, in May after councillors voted to evict them from the site.

After an appeal by the leaseholder, Chelsea Yacht and Boat Company, the Planning Inspectorate has now reversed the council’s decision.

Cllr Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning and public realm at Kensington and Chelsea, described the appeal’s outcome as ‘bitterly disappointing’.

The moorings, off Cheyne Walk, have been occupied by a neighbourhood of houseboat owners since the 1930s, with famous former residents including Damien Hirst.

Last December, Kensington and Chelsea councillors went against the recommendation of officers and determined three boats moored at Chelsea Reach had constituted a planning breach due to their impact on the idyllic site and the river.

Enforcement notices were approved for the vessels at a follow-up meeting in February. One of them had though left in the interim, meaning the matter was reviewed, and the evictions re-approved, in May.

The decision was appealed by Chelsea Yacht and Boat Company with a Planning Inspectorate hearing held in October. The Inspectorate last week published its findings, in which it chose to allow the appeal and quash the enforcement notices meaning the two larger boats can remain.

In the published decision, the Planning Inspectorate wrote the variety of houseboats moored at the harbour ‘creates an eclectic mix which is attractive and provides a sense of place.’

The Inspectorate continued to note that while of a ‘generally larger scale’, the two boats in question reflect the variety in the locality.

On the living conditions of other houseboat residents, the Planning Inspectorate wrote the larger vessels are ‘likely’ to impact privacy and light in particular when moored alongside smaller boats, but that there were already larger boats stationed alongside smaller ones elsewhere on the Reach.

They wrote: “Crucially, positions are not fixed, the houseboats can change moorings and there is no restriction on size or design. This is a consequence of the use of land. The contested houseboats are not unique in being positioned alongside houseboats of different sizes.”

Cllr Kemahli said: “Residents challenged us to protect Chelsea and its iconic riverside and this council fought to do everything we could to meet that challenge. It is bitterly disappointing that the Planning Inspectorate has quashed the enforcement notice. I believe we put forward a very strong case.”

Ben Coleman, MP for Chelsea and Fulham, said: “I’m shocked and disappointed by this decision. The council must not stop here but do all it can to prevent further boats coming in and blighting this iconic community.”

The Chelsea Yacht and Boat Company and Chelsea Reach Boatowners’ Association have been approached for comment.