The Lots Road South proposal, which was recently approved by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, had already been green-lit by Kensington and Chelsea
Under the scheme the existing structures are to be demolished and replaced with three buildings between five and 13 storeys tall(Image: PRP Architects)
A 274-home development crossing two West London boroughs is set to proceed after being green-lit by the second council involved. The Lots Road South proposal, which is primarily in Kensington and Chelsea though also constitutes land in neighbouring Hammersmith and Fulham, will see a total of 118 affordable homes built in the neighbourhood.
Of these 65 are to be social rent ‘extra care homes’, with the remaining 53 to be social rent ‘general needs’ properties. The scheme, developed by Mount Anvil in partnership with Kensington and Chelsea Council, was approved unanimously by Hammersmith and Fulham at a Planning and Development Control Committee meeting on Tuesday night (March 10).
Kensington and Chelsea’s Planning Committee had already backed the scheme in December, with the hope work will begin this year. The site, which is by Chelsea Creek, is currently home to a mix of businesses including a self-storage facility.
Lots Road Auctions was previously based in the area but relocated in March 2024. Under the scheme the existing structures are to be demolished and replaced with three new buildings, which will be between five and 13 storeys tall.
The application also outlines plans to deliver additional open space including a green community square, a promenade along the creek, new public access routes through the site, widened footpaths on Lots Road, and active ground-floor frontages.
Two-thirds of the site is in Kensington and Chelsea with the remaining in Hammersmith and Fulham. Kensington and Chelsea Council owns the entirety of the land.
In an officer presentation prepared for Tuesday night’s meeting it was detailed how, of the 118 affordable homes, 43 are to be social rent properties for Hammersmith and Fulham residents.
These are to be split between seven one-bed flats, seven two-bed for three people, 13 two-bed for four people, and 16 three-bed.
During consultation the application drew concerns from six objectors, four of which were from residents in Hammersmith and Fulham, with concerns including the proposed heights and density.
However these were outweighed by the 53 letters of support, with more than a third, 18, of these submitted by individuals in Hammersmith and Fulham.
As well as homes the proposed development would include a new community centre, café and community work space(Image: PRP Architects)
Jon Roshier, Director at Rolfe Judd Planning and representing Mount Anvil, told members the cross-borough nature of the scheme had added some “complexity”.
He added though that the target remained “to deliver a comprehensive, well-designed development which responds to its local context and delivers clear benefits for the local community”.
Committee members queried the size of elements of the scheme as well as its biodiversity credentials. There was however praise from several councillors on the quality of the application.
Cllr Patrick Walsh said: “It is greatly welcome to see family-sized units being included, given this is an area of particular struggle in terms of the number of developments [that] come forward which are one or two-bed.”
Cllr Alex Karmel said that, having also watched the presentation to Kensington and Chelsea Council, he has been impressed by the work put in with the community and planning teams at the two local authorities. “It is almost an exemplar of how it should be done.”
This point was echoed by the Committee Chair, Cllr Nikos Souslous, who said: “It has come across my desk in various capacities and I’ve seen [that work], and it is quite impressive.”
Cllr Emma Will, Lead Member for Property at Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: “This is a key moment for the scheme and for our wider plans to transform this part of the riverside together with our residents while respecting Chelsea’s character.
“The development will deliver 274 new homes, including the borough’s first purpose-built extra care scheme, helping residents live independently in their own flats with on-site support. It will also create a new community square, community centre, Creekside promenade, landscaped gardens and affordable workspace.
“It sits within our broader vision for the area. We are progressing plans for a new amazing space on the riverside at Cremorne Wharf, improvements to the Thames Path between Cremorne Wharf and Cremorne Gardens, and a replacement jetty to help open up this part of the river for the first time in many years.”
Marcus Bate, Partnerships, Planning, Communities and Sustainability Director at Mount Anvil, said: “This is great news for Hammersmith and Fulham and its residents, who we have worked with every step of the way to bring forward new homes to Lots Road.
“With new housing, commercial and community facilities, and a significant greening of the site, especially along Chelsea Creek, we have worked with the council to create a regenerative development that will deliver much needed new housing in London.
“As part of this, we’re supporting LBHF’s industrial strategy by delivering new flexible commercial space, including affordable workspace that enables local start‑ups and scale‑ups to thrive and contribute to the borough’s growing economy.
“The extra care homes will address a distinct local need and give the residents living in them independence and an enhanced quality of life, whilst the general needs social rent homes will provide much needed high-quality and genuinely affordable spaces for families in both boroughs.
“We are now looking forward to getting underway on-site this year as we continue our London-wide mission to keep delivering the new homes the capital desperately needs.”
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