Welcome to the website
for the proposed Around
Station Development
at South Kensington
South Kensington Station, located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), is one of the busiest stations on the London Underground, welcoming around 34 million passengers a year to the area, which includes London’s world-famous museum quarter.
Native Land and Places for London have been developing plans to restore and and enhance the buildings and land at South Kensington Tube station, providing new homes, including 35% on site affordable, workspace, shops, and completing much-needed step-free access to the Circle & District lines.
We submitted our planning application in summer 2020 and have since twice submitted further refinements to our designs, most recently in August 2021.
LATEST AMENDMENTS
In June 2021, RBKC’s planning officer recommended the borough approve the scheme, with the planning application receiving nearly 700 letters of support from across the wider community, including from a range of important local organisations and institutions, such as the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum and Imperial College.
However, we asked RBKC to defer the planning committee to allow time for further refinement to the designs, where these might be possible within the overall vision for the site. These latest amendments to the current application are aimed at:
- Reducing heights on certain elements of the scheme and introducing further setbacks or parapets
- Reducing glazing and changing materials on certain parts of the development
- Ensuring the designs are optimised to sit sympathetically within the context
Following a planning committee meeting in November 2021, the plans for South Kensington Station are subject to an inquiry by the Planning Inspectorate. We are currently waiting for the decision of the Planning Inspector.
We believe our plans provide for a considered scheme that will help bring a renewed sense of place to South Kensington, creating an experience befitting the gateway to London’s internationally renowned museum and cultural quarter.
Affordable housing and step-free access to the station will be delivered in the first phase of the scheme.
OUR PROJECT PLEDGES
- Delivery of step free access to the ticket hall, District & Circle line platforms and the, subway tunnel – delivered in first phase of the scheme
- 35% on site affordable housing – delivered in first phase of the scheme
- Small shops designed to suit small and independent retailers
- Flexible office space to suit small and medium sized enterprises
- High quality, contextual architecture
- Building heights directly relating to, or lower than our immediate neighbours
- A highly sustainable development of the highest quality
- A proven project delivery team
10 benefits of our proposal:
Improved accessibility
Completing the delivery of much-needed step free access to the ticket hall and Circle & District lines, greatly improving accessibility for parents with buggies, wheelchair users and other passengers with restricted mobility. This will be delivered in the first phase of the scheme.
Affordable housing
50 new high quality homes around the station, including 35% on site affordable homes of various sizes, to be delivered in first phase of the scheme
Modest heights
The proposed buildings are all of 4-5 storeys and are similar or smaller in scale to those in the surrounding streets. No protected views are being harmed as a result of our proposals.
Heritage-led development
Restoration of the Thurloe Street façade and the preservation and restoration of the Grade-II listed station arcade in its entirety, ensuring the much-loved historic station building remains at the heart of our proposals
Local economic benefits
Supporting 250 new jobs and providing almost £1m additional business rate revenue per year
Sustainable development
Sustainability credentials compliant with the London Plan and draft RBKC SPD.
Quality buildings
New buildings of the highest quality with carefully considered designs that respect the unique and important heritage of the area
Improved retail
New shops in the restored station arcade, at the ground floor of Thurloe Street and the Bullnose building, and at the station end of Pelham Street. These are being designed with a small footprint to appeal to small and independent retailers
High quality employment space
New office and workspace of the highest quality
Improved passenger experience
Creating a renewed sense of arrival for the around 34 million visitors and residents per year to the station and an improved pedestrian experience around the station
