Published: Wednesday 12 November 2025
The Council’s Planning Committee has given the go ahead to a major new development in Kensal Canalside.
After almost three hours of debate, councillors resolved to approve planning permission for the application, put forward by developer Ballymore and supermarket chain Sainsbury's.
Following the committee’s decision, the application is referred to the Mayor of London. This is standard procedure with a major application of this size. The Mayor of London will now decide whether to agree with the Council’s decision or call the application in for his own consideration.
The plans include:
- 2,519 homes, including 500 affordable homes,
- a new community hub,
- a new supermarket,
- new public green spaces,
- transport links with cycle paths ,
- an extended bus route.
Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said:
“This is a major milestone for the borough. We have very little space to build in Kensington and Chelsea and a very high demand for housing, so it’s absolutely crucial that the opportunity is grasped with both hands at Kensal Canalside. I hope it won’t be long before the developer can get on with the job of building over 2,500 much-needed homes, 500 of those will be affordable. It will be a change for the area, but I look forward to it becoming a happy neighbourhood and a new amazing space, offering homes and community for many people in the near future.”
Cllr James Husband, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said:
“We gave detailed consideration to the application over almost three hours last night. The number of homes is very significant in the context of our borough and in the end the public benefit outweighed the harms. At a vote of four to one, the committee agreed to resolve to grant planning permission.”
Kensal Canalside is one of two opportunity areas identified for growth in Kensington and Chelsea, the other being the old exhibition centre site at Earls Court.