The planned redevelopment of South Kensington Underground station has been approved by planning inspectors, ending a long-running feud between the local council, Transport for London and Native Land.
The scheme will provide 50 new homes around the Grade II listed station, along with 18,000 sq ft of shops and 24,000 sq ft of office space in a new four-storey building at the front.
The redevelopment of the building, referred to as the Bullnose because of its unique shape, proved contentious with Kensington & Chelsea’s planning committee, which rejected the scheme in 2021. Native Land and TfL’s property company, Places for London, appealed, with the majority of that appeal now upheld by the planning inspector.
Alasdair Nicholls, chief executive of Native Land said: “This decision brings a drawn-out planning process to a positive conclusion, achieving a rare consent for a major mixed-use sustainable development in a central London location. This is a high-quality scheme that will protect the heritage of the station while bringing a renewed sense of place to South Kensington.”
Places for People’s head of property development, Scott Anderson, added: “We are delighted with this positive decision. The consented proposals enhance the South Kensington station buildings and surrounding streets, while embracing the historic context of the area and honouring its legacy. The station sees millions of journeys being made by people from across the world, with it acting as a gateway to some of Britain’s most important and treasured cultural institutions, and these improvements will help them to experience London at its finest.”
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