Ballymore and Sainsbury’s have submitted a planning application for a major canalside neighbourhood in Ladbroke Grove, London.
The proposed neighbourhood will deliver 2,519 new homes, at least 500 of which will be affordable, plus two parks and a local high street with a reinstated canal basin at its heart. Plans also include over 90,000 sq ft of high street shops, cafes and restaurants as well as a new Sainsbury’s supermarket.
The proposed neighbourhood would deliver much-needed new homes for London on a brownfield site already allocated for development by the local area and the GLA, and at 19 acres, it is one of the largest remaining brownfield sites in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The site forms part of the Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area, identified in the Mayor’s London Plan.
The scheme will include diverse natural habitats and interventions to support urban wildlife and biodiversity net gain. This includes grassland, woodland, wetland and canal basin habitats. In total, the neighbourhood will offer over 8.5 acres of high-quality, publicly accessible open space.
A comprehensive sustainability strategy aims to maximise renewable generation and green infrastructure to produce zero emissions on site, with heating and cooling provided by air source heat pumps and the development featuring solar panels and sustainable urban drainage systems.
John Mulryan, group managing director of Ballymore, said: “Kensal Canalside is one of the last remaining major brownfield sites to be developed in London and the largest in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The scale and location of the site – in one of London’s 48 Opportunity Areas – presents a real opportunity to create a thoughtfully designed, accessible and sustainable canalside neighbourhood with strong transport links.”
“There are over 3,000 households on RBKC’s housing waiting list. Our proposals will make a positive and significant contribution towards reducing that figure. Kensal Canalside will provide a significant number of much-needed homes, plus a variety of retail spaces as well as open green spaces and a community leisure and amenity space that our residents and the local people can enjoy.”
Patrick Dunne, group property and procurement director of Sainsbury’s, added: “The development of the Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area will revitalise a key brownfield site in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, delivering places for people to live, work, shop and relax, and providing a significant boost to the local economy.”
“The plans will allow us to deliver a brand-new, state-of-the-art Sainsbury’s supermarket for the local community to enjoy, and we’re proud that we are providing continuity to our customers by keeping our existing store open until the new one arrives. The larger, more modern and more spacious superstore will stock a wider range of our great value, high-quality food and non-food products and will build on our track record of offering fantastic service to our customers in Ladbroke Grove.”
Ben Sykes, partner at FaulknerBrowns Architects, said: “The masterplan is inspired by its characterful setting, where Ladbroke Grove meets the sweeping Grand Union Canal and the open space at Kensal Green. In response, our design has been built around public spaces, including a restored canal basin, play spaces and adding gardens and groves to the borough, to create a series of smaller neighbourhoods with a rich mix of uses and a strong sense of personality and place.”
“We are delighted to see the proposals submitted, after working with local residents, the local council, Ballymore, Sainsbury’s and the entire project team for almost four years, to research, design and develop the masterplan.”
The development will create a minimum of 2,000 permanent long-term jobs and provide a significant boost to the local economy, amounting to approximately £37million annually. If planning is successful, the 11-year construction programme is estimated to start in 2025 with the first homes delivered in 2030.
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