PRP among four architects to unveil designs for Kensington & Chelsea council homes

Kensington & Chelsea council has given planning approval to 97 new council homes in the borough across four schemes, each designed by different architects.

Planning officers gave the council the green light last week for the schemes, which is planned for four sites in the north of the borough. They will be the first phase of the council’s New Homes Programme, which aims to build 600 homes in total.

Architect PRP has designed one scheme with the other three designed by Maccreanor Lavington, Allies and Morrison and Adam Architecture.

All of the new schemes will be less than a mile away from the remains of the former council housing block Grenfell Tower, which burned down in 2017 with the loss of 72 lives.

Deputy leader of the council Kim Taylor-Smith said: “We want to provide quality housing for residents from all backgrounds.”

He added: “It is important for the council to set standards within our own programme that we would like to see from other organisations developing in the borough.”

Just over half of the homes will be for social rent, with 22 at intermediate rent and 26 at market rent.

One of the sites, at Acklam Road, will include a space for the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre.

Enabling works on phase one will begin by the end of this year, with completion scheduled for mid-2022.

Planning applications for phase two are expected to be submitted next spring after a consultation kicks off this autumn.