Holding an event in a public space in the Borough

This is the Council's standard events guidance to be read in conjunction with the current Covid-19 specific requirements before submitting an application.

Guidance for events

 

Notice period

 

Street events and promotions

For promotional activity or other activities with a very low impact, such as a small charity walk with no infrastructure, you must provide at least 10 working days’ notice.

For all other street events we need between 6 and 12 weeks' notice, depending on the location and impact of the event. These are events that include road closures and/or parking suspensions and will have an impact on residents and businesses in the area. For these events you may need other licenses or permissions; we can advise further once we have received your application.

Park events

For small events (under 499 attendees) in a park, we need at least 6 weeks' notice. For events that may need a licence, we need up to 12 weeks' notice.

For larger events (above 499 attendees) involving licensable activities, it may take longer to approve. Licensable activities are activities like sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment.

For more detail on the licensing requirements at events, go to the Events in parks page.

Approval process

 

We will decide if you can hold your event by looking at the following:

  • Is the event or activity suitable in the proposed location?
  • Will the event or activity be managed safely and under the terms and conditions of the event licence?
  • Has enough notice been given to facilitate the event?
  • Will the event benefit, and be supported by, the community and local businesses?
  • Are there any existing event applications in the proposed location on the same day?
  • Were previous events organised by the event organiser managed well?

Once you have sent your application we will review it and get in touch with you with further information. There may be licenses you need to apply for or other council procedures to be aware of. If you do not reply we will not be able to approve your event. We will write to you to let you know why.

Council permissions can include:

  • Highways
  • Street Lighting
  • Parking
  • Street Trading and Enforcement
  • Environmental Health
  • Licensing
  • Planning

Please note
The Special Events office also charge an administration fee at an hourly rate (currently £104 inclusive of VAT) to cover officer time, general advice, office costs and liaison with other Council officers, if required.
All payments must be made by debit or credit card before the event takes place and before any licences can be issued.
We will accommodate late applications where possible, but a charge of £85 will be applied (any applications submitted late are not guaranteed to be processed and will depend on officer capacity).

Fees, charges and lead times for 2023-24

Type of event organiser or activity

  • Community/Civic: local community group, educational or voluntary organisation based in Kensington and Chelsea with less than £1million turnover, organising a not-for-profit activity in support of the community.
  • Charity: registered charity, charitable incorporated organisation or CIC with less than £1million turnover, organising a not-for-profit activity.
  • Commercial: organising an activity intended to generate a profit
  • Private hire/Corporate: includes weddings and awaydays
Permission Description of Purpose Deadline Cost
Promotional Activity / Events on the Public Highway Promotional distribution with no infrastructure for up to 7 days - includes up to two distributors per site ***At least 10 working days

½ day £206

1 day £452

rate for every extra day up to 7 days £150

Promotional distribution with infrastructure for up to 7 days - includes up to two distributors per site

½ day £356

1 day £712

rate for every extra day up to 7 days £150

Each additional distributor (per site, per day)

£33

Promotional distribution lasting longer than 7 days (must contact the special events team prior to submission) POA
Temporary street trading licence (per trader/stall) for commercial events and temporary markets £28
Temporary Highways Consent Temporary Highways Consent (THC) for infrastructure at an event or promotional activity on the highway for up to 7 days ***At least 10 working days

½ day £150

1 day £260

rate for every extra day up to 7 days £180

  Temporary Highways Consent (THC) for infrastructure at an event or promotional activity on the highway for more than 7 days ***At least 10 working days POA
Planning 
and Building Control
Planning or advertising permissions may be required, dependant on the activity. 
Building Control may advise that a Section 30 licence is required for any structures built for an event.
For more information, visit the planning and building control page
Dependant on proposed activity POA
Temporary Events Notice (TEN’s) This is given by an individual (a premises user) and authorises the premises user to conduct one or more licensable activities (Licensing Act 2003) at the premises for no more than 96 hours. TEN’s can be used to authorise relatively small – scale ad hoc events held at the premises involving less than 499 people at one time. For more information, please visit the Temporary Event Notices page ***10 working days £21
Premises
License
A Premises License - required for one or more licensable activity (Licensing Act 2003). For more information, please contact the Licensing Team, [email protected] 020 7341 5152. Recommend three months Dependent on the premises rate-able value
Road
Closure

Closures of a road for an event.

For more information, visit the Temporary traffic orders page


6 weeks (small streets) 12 weeks (if affected road is used as a TfL route).
 
£1828
Parking bay suspension

15 working days, in writing, to suspend a resident, diplomatic, numbered disabled bay, car club or doctor's parking bay
5 working days, in writing, to suspend a pay-and-display or blue badge disabled bay.

Where chargeable days are not booked as cumulative, seven consecutive days are required between the end of an application and the start of a new one for the same location and by same applicant.

***Resident Bay 15 working days. P&D bays 5 working £66 per bay, per day
Events in Parks Number of attendees Community/ Civic Charity Commercial Private hire/ corporate At least 6 weeks for small events, 3 months for large events  
Below 50
charged per day, includes 1 hour admin
 
£50      
50 – 250
charged at half day (4 hours) or full day (8 hours) does not include admin
 

Half - £55

Full - £110
 

Half £110

Full £220
 

Half £165

Full £330
 

Half £220

Full £440
 

251 – 499
charged at full day.
 
£220 £440 £660 £880
500 – 999
charged at full day.
 
£330 £660 £990 £1320
1000 – 1999
charged at full day.
 
£440 £880 £1320 £1760
 

2000 – 2999

charged at full day.
£550 £1100 £1650 £2200    
  3000+ POA POA POA POA    

Ireton Lodge hire in Holland park

 

Hire fee per day for maximum 999 attendees, one day minimum charge.   £1320
Park trading permit Per stall/ trader for events with commercial sale of products.   £28
Parks damage deposit Applicable to all park bookings. Refundable Deposit, 50% percent of the main Events fee.   POA
Administration Fee Per hour, applied to all applications, unless noted as included (minimum charge one hour)
Community/Civic
Charity
Commercial
Private Hire/Corporate
 

£50

£100

£150

£200
COVID-19 update

The Events team continue to be available to discuss any future event proposals, review plans and offer guidance during this time. Please contact the Events Team before applying to find out if your event is suitable for the location you are proposing at this time. 

If you are considering organising an event, please be aware of lead-in times or application deadlines that need to be taken into account before deciding your event date and that each event is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants are advised to use the Covid-19 Outdoor Event Guidance document below to assist with understanding what is expected to be included across all areas of planning.

This document should be read in conjunction with our standard event guidelines as well as the specific Government and industry guidance that applies to your activities.

Apply to hold an outdoor event

If you have any questions, or need help with anything, contact us at:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7341 5762

Last updated: 19 October 2023