Also known as Sainsbury’s site Development
The former gasworks site south of Kensal Green Cemetery is the last major development site in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), and the borough is keen to see it redeveloped to provide more housing.
(Note: The Earl’s Court site is partly in RBKC. Their initial planning application was made in July 2024. See https://www.earlscourt.com/ for more information.)
Note: QPARA provides links to external material for information. Presence of a link does not mean we have checked it for accuracy or support the views shown there.
The area shown with a red outline is divided into two development sites. In addition, the area at the eastern end occupied by Canalside House and the Water Sports Centre, is owned by RBKC, and they have invited Ballymore to make proposals to develop that area.
This plan, taken from the St William website, shows the ownership of the land north of the railway.
BALLYMORE / SAINSBURY’S SITE
The majority of the area is being developed by a partnership of Ballymore and Sainsbury’s. It is known as Project Flourish. There is a website at: https://www.projectflourish.co.uk/
Note: they have a number of download links for more information at the bottom of their “Consultation and Feedback” page, including most of the slides from the Development Forum presentation on 10th July.
ST WILLIAM SITE
The small portion at the western end, (far end in top photo), that was occupied by the two gasometers, is being developed by Berkeley St William. They refer to it as Kensal Green Gasworks.
LAND SOUTH OF RAILWAY
The strip of land the other side of the railway, south of the main site, belongs to Network Rail. It was used as the main Eurostar Depot, and is now being used by the HS2 project and is not anticipated to be free for a decade or so. Development of this area is also proposed. A bridge (pedestrian and cycle) across the railway is proposed to link the two areas and the Ballymore project make provision for this.
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA PLANNING
The site is within the Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area identified by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Their website about it is at: https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/kensal-canalside-opportunity-area-spd
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are the planning authority and will gain all the money from the developers for local improvements (Section 106). The closely bordering boroughs of Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Westminster have no formal say and will not benefit.
It is said that RBKC will earmark some of the Section 106 money for schools and medical facilities affected by the development.