Tite Street
As members will know, St. Wilfrid’s Care Home closed some time ago, and the site will be sold and redeveloped.

This will be a hugely important development, on which The Chelsea Society will focus its attention at each stage and make its own representations to Councillors and
Planning Officers. We will also meet with the buyers when we know who they are.

The existing building is very undistinguished, and we are in principle willing to accept redevelopment. We would also be willing in principle to accept the use of part of the site
for private houses/flats.  However, we consider that the key points are:
• Height no greater than the existing building.
• No loss of the existing green space, and open views across the site
• No obstruction of light to the listed artists’ studio windows on the West side of Tite Street.
• Use of part of the site for another care home. (We think RBKC should use it to make the provision which they have
so far failed to make following the closure of Thamesbrook).
• Design of the new buildings must be compatible with the existing buildings in Tite Street, many of which are listed. We do not want an ultra-modern building in this Conservation Area.

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REPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

for the year 2018

During the year the Society’s Planning Committee comprised:

Michael Stephen (Chairman)

Sir Paul Lever KCMG (Brompton Hans Ward)

Martyn Baker (Chelsea Riverside Ward)

Chris Lenon (Royal Hospital Ward) – until December

Laura Carrara-Cagni (Stanley Ward) – until October

News on planning issues is published regularly on the Society’s website at www.chelseasociety.org.uk

THE WILLIAM SUTTON ESTATE – Planning Appeal dismissed.

The owners of the estate applied for planning permission for redevelopment, which was refused by RBKC.  The owners appealed, and the appeal was heard by a government-appointed Inspector at a Public Enquiry in Kensington Town Hall from 9th – 18th May 2018.

The Chelsea Society was represented at the Appeal by Michael Stephen, Chairman of the Planning Committee and James Thompson, Chairman of the Society.  The Society’s Closing Submission to the Inspector on 18th May 2018 is on the Society’s website.

The Society said at the appeal “It would be unrealistic for the Minister to ignore the revised scheme, which would provide more social housing than the original scheme, but if he takes it into account he must be satisfied that local people have had a proper opportunity to consider it. If he is not so satisfied this could mean a new application, which would be very costly and would lead to more years of uncertainty for the residents. We would prefer to see the money spent on providing better housing for the residents than on professional fees.

He was not so satisfied and dismissed the appeal on 18^th December 2018.  The owners could challenge the decision on a point of law in the High Court, they could submit a new planning application to RBKC, or they could abandon their plans. They cannot be compelled to refurbish the existing buildings, though they may decide to do so. As we said at the Inquiry “It is quite clear that the current situation on the estate is not satisfactory for anyone, and improvement is urgently necessary.” We also said “although the owners may have the legal right to let flats on the estate at open market rents, this would be contrary to the purposes for which William Sutton gave the land.”

PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

PD rights can have undesirable consequences for attractive street settings in our Conservation Areas. For example, with the exception of listed buildings, you can without planning permission remove an attractive (even original or historic) window facing the street and replace it with a new ugly window provided only that the new window is made of similar materials – there is no requirement for similar style or design.

We believe that RBKC should issue an Article 4 Direction to remove such PD rights in all our Conservation Areas, making such developments subject to planning permission and enabling the Council to refuse applications which fail “to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Conservation Area.” We wrote to RBKC accordingly and have met with them to discuss this.

EMPTY FLATS AND HOUSES

RBKC Deputy Leader Cllr. Kim Taylor Smith, wrote to the Government about getting the Borough’s 621 empty flats and houses into use. He wants powers to enable the Council to take over empty properties, pay rent to the owners, and let the homes to Council tenants.

However, this is a very controversial measure and is an ongoing issue.  It has been carefully considered by the Society’s Planning Committee, and Members of the Society were encouraged to send their views to the Chairman of the Planning Committee

GOVERNANCE OF RBKC

For the Society’s views on the governance of the Council see https://chelseasociety.org.uk/governance-of-rbkc/  and for the Society’s views on changes needed to planning law see https://chelseasociety.org.uk/planning-law-review/

LONDON BUS SERVICES

Transport for London have consulted on their proposed changes to bus routes, and The Society responded as follows:

“Most of the members of The Chelsea Society use the buses, and we are concerned mainly with the section of the Consultation headed “King’s Road, Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue.”  Many of our members are obliged to use buses because there is no step-free access down to the trains at Sloane Square or South Kensington stations.  TfL should make it a priority to provide step-free access at these stations before they reduce any bus services.

Our two biggest concerns are Route 11 and 19, which would no longer serve Chelsea.

Details of our submission are on the Society’s website.

THE OLD POLICE STATION, LUCAN PLACE

We met with the developers and discussed the use of the 2,000 sq ft on the ground floor and another 2,000 sq ft on the basement floor which they offered to make available for community use.  Details are on the Society’s website.

Their planning Application PP/18/03491 has been refused, but if the Council do not change their position, this building is likely to remain derelict for some considerable time, with no community use at all.

TOWER BLOCKS ON THE CROMWELL ROAD

The Chelsea Society supported the Kensington Society in objecting to an application to build massive tower-blocks on the site of the existing Holiday Inn on the Cromwell Road, and it was refused on 27th September 2018.  Details are on The Chelsea Society’s website.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS – OBJECTORS

The Society was concerned that when implementing the recent change in data-protection law, RBKC were making it difficult for the names of individual objectors to appear on the published record.  The Society made representation and the matter has now been resolved

NOISE FROM MOTORCYCLES (AND SOME CARS)

One in five Europeans is regularly exposed to noise levels that could “significantly” damage their health, the World Health Organization says, and it updated guidelines on those levels in Europe on 9th October 2018.

Motorcyclists have of course as much right as anyone else to use the roads, but the noise made by many of their machines is excessive, and constitutes a real and persistent nuisance to people living nearby or using the streets.  This is becoming worse as the roads become more congested and more and more people are using motorcycles to get through the traffic. The vehicle need not be travelling at excessive speed to cause a noise nuisance, and fierce acceleration in low gear is the main problem.

Motorcycles are small vehicles with small engines, and yet they make so much more noise than much larger and more powerful vehicles – and some of the smallest emit the worst noise.  The reason for this is that their silencers are completely inadequate, even when properly maintained.  The same applies to certain types of car – in particular Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and Porsche.

The Society considers that our MP, our GLA Member and the Borough Council should propose to the Government that they amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1078/1986 to require that motorcycles and cars be equipped with silencers which are much more effective, even if this reduces speed and/or acceleration.

It would appear from the noise we have to endure every day that even the existing law is not being complied with, and the police should pay more attention to this problem.

THE KING’S ROAD

King’s Road is one of the most congested and worst polluted streets in London. At times there is complete gridlock, particularly in the section between Sloane Square and Sydney Street. A principal cause of the congestion is the large number of vans and lorries which use King’s Road and which, in many cases, stop there to deliver goods. The road is narrow. A single parked lorry can cause problems for buses (there are five bus routes along King’s Road). When two vehicles are parked opposite each other there is chaos.

The Society has made proposals to RBKC to alleviate these problems, and we are in dialogue with the Highways Dept.  For details see website.

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The Society is grateful for the service on the Planning Committee of PAUL AITKENHEAD, the member for Brompton-Hans Ward until his death in May 2017, and PATRICK BATY, the member for Stanley Ward until his retirement from the Committee in July 2017.

The following is a summary of the issues considered by the Committee, of which details can be found on the Society’s website under “Planning & Environment.”

REVIEW OF PLANNING LAW
The Society has submitted evidence to the Royal Town Planning Institute, for the Raynsford Review of Planning Law.
We recognise the general principle that property owners are free to do as they please with their property subject to restrictions in the public interest. However, we think that the balance of planning law is currently too much in favour of the property owner, and does not attach sufficient weight to the interests of local people who are affected by his development.
It is often impossible for local people to live or work in their homes during builders’ working hours for many months or even years, but the owners of the building site are rarely personally affected as they are usually living elsewhere. Earlier this year one of our members died due to the noise, dust, vibrations and intolerable stress caused by a development next door.
Traditionally building owners have not been required to compensate nearby residents for the diminution in their quality of life caused to them for the benefit of the building owner. We do not think that this is fair, and we believe that before the commencement of works the Council should be given a legal charge on the property to secure the payment of compensation to be assessed by a Tribunal if not agreed. The Tribunal would have regard to the length and severity of the diminution, and the conduct of the owner and the builders.
The Council should have power to require owners to give to the Council a legal charge on the property to cover damage to neighbouring property and associated professional fees. It should not be left to neighbouring residents to spend money on solicitors, party-wall surveyors and builders for work that they do not want but have no power to prevent.
Basement development often causes the greatest adverse impacts, and that is why RBKC has restricted the area of the property which can be excavated, but this does not go far enough. We therefore think that areas should be designated as indicated above in which there should be a presumption against any basement development. In places where permission for a basement is given, the Council should have power to limit the depth as well as the extent, because depth is directly related to time, noise, and damage.
In cases where development is permitted, there must be very stringent controls on the noise, dust, obstruction, and traffic congestion involved. We are pleased that RBKC are consulting with the Society and other representatives of local people to find ways in which enforcement can be improved.
There are some streets in Chelsea where several developments are in progress at the same time, and which results in unacceptable diminution in the quality of life for local people. The Council should have power to control the timing of multiple developments to ensure that this does not happen, and to impose time limits and to levy a penalty if work over-runs.
Often we see a series of applications for essentially the same development. Local people and amenity societies like The Chelsea Society have to make an objection every time a new application is made, or it will not be considered. This is an unreasonable burden on people who are not being paid to protect their local environment.
The “residentialisation” of Kensington & Chelsea is a serious issue. Because of the high property values much of the available space is being converted into residences and the local Council has insufficient power to resist. All remaining employment and amenity space should be safeguarded.

THE MAYOR’S CONSULTATION ON TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR LONDON
The Society has made a detailed submission to the Mayor. We do not agree with him that further population growth is good for London. In our view the transport challenge will be overwhelming if the number of people living in London, working in London, and visiting London, continues to increase as rapidly as in recent years.

MEET THE PLANNERS
On 10th April Mr. Graham Stallwood, Executive Director of Planning and Borough Development of RBKC, and Cllr. Tim Coleridge, Cabinet-member for Planning Policy and Arts, explained the role of the professional planners and the elected Councillors in planning the Chelsea of the future.

RBKC FINANCES
On 22nd May Cllr. Warwick Lightfoot, Cabinet-member for Finance and Strategy at RBKC, explained how the Council collects, spends, and invests our money.

THE KING’S ROAD
The Society has published a paper on the Use of the Road, The Appearance and cleanliness of the Road, and Air Pollution on and near the road.

LE COLOMBIER RESTAURANT
The Chelsea Society supported an Article 4 Direction to prevent change of use from restaurant to shop or to premises for financial or professional services.

THE QUEEN’S HEAD PUBLIC HOUSE, TRYON STREET
The Society supported an application to RBKC to designate the pub as an “Asset of Community Value” and it was listed as ACV for 5 years on 10th November 2016. We are concerned that the pub is still closed and are taking this up with the owner.

CINEWORLD CINEMA 279 KINGS ROAD
The Society has supported the redevelopment of this site to provide a new cinema with improved facilities. Work is now in progress.

ROYAL BROMPTON HOSPITAL
The Society has published its position on proposals to redevelop the site, and has supported objections requesting better quality public spaces and commercial activity areas together with a serious replanting scheme to preserve the public amenity of the area. However, the future of the hospital in Chelsea seems now to be in doubt, and the Society’s Planning Committee will consider this again in the New Year.

THAMESBROOK CARE HOME
The Society has supported proposals to redevelop the site to provide luxury retirement homes, but expects RBKC to use the capital receipts to provide retirement homes elsewhere in Chelsea for those who will not be able to afford the new facility.

SUTTON DWELLINGS
The Chelsea Society has been granted Rule 6 status in the Appeal against refusal of Planning Permission

SLOANE STREET
The Society’s is generally supportive of proposals by RBKC and Cadogan to improve the street, but does not support the narrowing of the street by widening the pavements.

SOANE STABLE BLOCK
The Society has been consulted by the Royal Hospital on their plans to restore the old stable block designed by Sir John Soane, and is generally supportive.

THE OLD POLICE STATION
The Society has met with the new owners, and has discussed the external appearance of the proposed new building with the architects. The Society is seeking to obtain community benefits by the inclusion on the ground and lower ground floors of facilities for doctors, dentists and other health-care professionals, together with a meeting room, a small post office and a small police-post.

CADOGAN PIER
The Society does not wish to see this pier become a floating caravan park, and has opposed an application by the owner for a certificate of lawful development under s. 191 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

1A WALTON STREET
The Society has successfully opposed the construction of a very large basement.

CHRIST CHURCH
The Society supported the church in their successful application to install solar panels (not visible from ground level) on an inner roof, after the initial application had been refused.

HEATHROW
The Society has opposed the construction of a third runway.

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