Plans approved for new Kensal Canalside neighbourhood
Ballymore and Sainsbury’s plans for a major new canalside neighbourhood in Ladbroke Grove have been consented.
Kensal Canalside has been designed to deliver 2,519 new homes, of which at least 500 will be affordable, plus two parks and a local high street with new offices, shops, cafes and restaurants – with a reinstated, historic canal basin at its heart. Plans also include a new flagship 60,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket, featuring the very latest look, feel and format that Sainsbury’s has to offer, with car parking underground.
The proposed neighbourhood will deliver much-needed new homes for London on a 19-acre brownfield site in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – a large proportion of which has been closed off to the public for over 40 years as a former gasworks.
The masterplan, by FaulknerBrowns, takes its inspiration from local Regency and Victorian design, as well as its setting close to Kensal Green Cemetery, the Grand Union Canal and the wider area’s rich cultural mix.
Two public parks and inclusive play spaces, designed by landscape architecture and design practice, Spacehub, form part of the proposals, as well as 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.
Situated around 15 minutes’ walk from four tube stations (Kensal Green, Kensal Rise, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park), the plans encourage sustainable travel with new bus stops, pedestrian links and cycle routes and improved access to the canalside path.
John Mulryan, Group Managing Director, Ballymore, said:
“We are pleased that the RBKC planning committee has given approval for our project at Kensal Canalside. This will be an exemplar project, showing how we can turn a complex, former gasworks into a thriving place full of character delivering over 2,500 much needed new homes. Kensal Canalside will bring thousands of jobs, a new high street, leisure spaces - all of which will be game changing not just for the people who’ll move here, but for thousands of residents in the wider community.
“Kensal Canalside demonstrates the partnership approach we are taking to deliver large numbers of high-quality homes across the capital – in this case with Sainsburys. The collapse in housing starts in London is a serious threat to our city and the wider country. With our partners and local councils we have a responsibility to build increasing numbers of new homes, and we know that large, under-used brownfield sites like this can make a significant contribution to delivery.
“We’re hugely grateful to all our partners on this project, and to RBKC, for getting us to this point – there are many more milestones ahead.”
Patrick Dunne, Chief Property & Procurement Officer, MD Smart Charge, Sainsbury’s, said:
“Since 2009 we’ve been working successfully with development partners like Ballymore to redevelop Sainsbury’s sites into new homes and community spaces, while transforming what we offer customers. We’re thrilled that the Council has granted us permission to build on this track record and deliver a groundbreaking new development for Ladbroke Grove.
“From our development partners to our brilliant store team and everyone in the Ladbroke Grove and surrounding neighbourhoods, I’d like to express my thanks for all the incredible support we’ve received for this project so far. We’re excited to be taking the next steps towards delivering it, working closely with the local community as we go, and we’ll keep everyone updated on our progress.”
Ben Sykes, Partner at FaulknerBrowns, said:
“We are delighted that the Ladbroke Grove masterplan has received planning approval - a significant milestone following eight years of design work and consultation. Our thanks go to our clients and design collaborators, whose energy and shared ambition have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. We’re proud to contribute to the continued evolution of one of London’s most distinctive neighbourhoods. We look forward to working with residents, the council, and the full project team to deliver the masterplan in the years ahead.”
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 £37 million annually. The scheme will also deliver funding for social infrastructure within the local community such as healthcare and schools. The Notting Hill Carnival, which launches from the site, will be preserved as a close and long-term partner, and plans to create a new family friendly Carnival experience are being explored.
The sustainability strategy aims to maximise renewable generation and green infrastructure to produce zero emissions on site. Heating and cooling will be provided by air source heat pumps and the development will feature solar panels and sustainable urban drainage systems. The scheme has been based on sustainable design and construction practices, adopting circular economy principles by considering the lifecycle of materials and minimising waste.
The 11-year construction programme is estimated to start in 2026. The first homes will be delivered in 2030 along with the new Sainsbury’s store and the neighbourhood centre around the restored canal basin.