Kensington & Chelsea has refused planning permission to housing association Affinity Sutton for the redevelopment of the William Sutton Estate in the heart of Chelsea, SW3, where one-third of dwellings are failing to meet decent homes standards.
Affinity Sutton proposed demolishing 383 social rent homes and replacing them with 343 homes in buildings between four and six storeys tall, including 237 for social rent – a loss of nearly 150 affordable units.
Affinity planned to reprovide 50% of the homes on a new build elsewhere.
A 2008 proposal for more homes in slightly taller buildings, which would have resulted in “no net loss” of social homes, was dismissed by Kensington & Chelsea as being “out of keeping” with the area before plans were even submitted.
Quod is advising on planning.
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