Planning inspector overturns council refusal of all proposals except introduction of shop fronts to grade II-listed subway
RSHP has been given the green light for its controversial redevelopment of South Kensington Station, two years after councillors rejected the scheme in the face of officers鈥� recommendations.
A planning inspector has ruled that the bulk of the scheme 鈥� created for developer Native Land and Transport for London property company Places for London 鈥� can go ahead. The only elements of the South Ken proposals that were dismissed at appeal were plans to insert two shops in the grade-II listed subway that links the station with the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum.
RSHP鈥檚 scheme will deliver 50 new homes, along with a range of shops, restaurants and workspace 鈥� and station improvements including step-free access to platforms from the Thurloe Street entrance. Almost 3,000sq m of new office space will be created under the proposals.
The scheme will involve the demolition of the station area鈥檚 existing single-storey 鈥淏ullnose鈥� building for replacement with a new four-storey structure.
Planning inspector Zo毛 Hill acknowledged that the 鈥渜uirky鈥� semi-circular building had its own clear character and identity. But she added that its was only a 鈥渃urtilage listed structure鈥� as part of the station鈥檚 grade II listing and that there was 鈥渟ound reason鈥� for its redevelopment.
She said RSHP鈥檚 proposals for a new Bullnose building would retain the current structure鈥檚 historic plan form at the same time as offering increased floorspace.
鈥淥nce the principle of demolition is accepted it is necessary to consider what would be appropriate to replace it, and those factors must have regard to the surroundings, the listed building itself and other material factors,鈥� she said.
But Hill took a tougher stance on the proposals to create new retail space in South Kensington Station Subway.
She said introducing new retail fa莽ades into the largely-unaltered glazed-brick subway, which was completed in 1885, would be 鈥渦nacceptably discordant鈥� and would 鈥渟ignificantly harm鈥� the special architectural and historic interest of the structure.
Native Land chief executive Alasdair Nicholls said Hill鈥檚 decision to approve almost all of RSHP鈥檚 proposals brought a 鈥渄rawn-out planning process鈥� to a positive conclusion.
鈥淭his is a high-quality scheme that will protect the heritage of the station while bringing a renewed sense of place to South Kensington,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hen complete, it will create an experience befitting the gateway to London鈥檚 internationally renowned museum and cultural quarter.鈥�
Places for London head of property development Scott Anderson said RSHP鈥檚 proposals would enhance the South Kensington Station buildings and the surrounding streets.
鈥淭he station sees millions of journeys being made by people from across the world, with it acting as a gateway to some of Britain鈥檚 most important and treasured cultural institutions, and these improvements will help them to experience London at its finest,鈥� he said.
Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning and public realm at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said the planning inspector鈥檚 decision was a 鈥渄isappointing blow鈥� for people who live in the area.
鈥淪outh Kensington is a world class destination. Destinations need transport links and development, but not at any cost,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ertainly not at the cost of the area鈥檚 recognisably distinctive and much-loved character.鈥�
Kemahli said the scheme had been opposed by more than 2,000 people and was at odds with TfL鈥檚 own design code.
RSHP鈥檚 plans for South Kensington Station are the sixth separate set of proposals to be worked up for the site since the 1980s, all of which have been confronted by heritage campaigners.
Scott, Brownrigg & Turner, Terry Farrell & Partners, Francis Machin, John McAslan & Partners and Buckley Gray Yeoman were responsible for previous schemes.
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