Furious neighbours face two years of ‘massive disruption’ as work is set to begin on Kensington Palace’s new £12million mega basement
- Plans submitted to build 160ft long, two-storey deep basement under Orangery
- It will store ceremonial dresses and accommodate Historic Royal Palaces staff
- There were 18 objections after plans infuriated some locals but council approved
- Work will begin in the next few weeks but neighbours say works are ‘dangerous’
Neighbours living near Kensington Palace claim that they are facing ‘two years of massive disruption’ when work to build a £12million mega basement begins.
Plans were submitted to build a 160ft long, two-storey deep basement under the 323-year-old Grade I-listed Queen Anne’s Orangery last year, and work is now expected to start in the next few weeks.
It will house palace staff, a kitchen to support the Orangery restaurant and an area to store ceremonial dresses.
Plans were submitted to build a 160ft long, two-storey deep basement under the 323-year-old Grade I-listed Queen Anne’s Orangery last year, and work is now expected to start in the next few weeks
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There had been 18 objections to the plans, which infuriated a number of locals, but the proposals eventually got the go ahead in September.
The row centred around the size of the proposed basement at the Orangery. Under the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council’s own policy, known as CL7, double level basements are normally prohibited.
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However, RBKC says this was designed to address the overdevelopment of residential properties in densely built-up areas, something that doesn’t apply to Kensington Palace, which is calls a ‘unique site in many respects’.
The council added that a deeper basement ‘minimises the surface take-up required’, which will preserve the open setting of the land.
The council said a deeper basement ‘minimises the surface take-up required’, which will preserve the open setting of the land
The council report also said any harm to the Orangery’s above ground appearance would be offset by ‘many public benefits’
Neighbour Stephen Tsang, 60, an architect who lives near to the spot where lorries will access the site told the London Evening Standard the works will be ‘dangerous’, adding: ‘A lot of cyclists have been knocked down there.’
He also poibnted out that pupils at Kensington Park independent secondary school, which is due to open less than 100 metres from the park entrance could be put in danger. He said: ‘The children will pour out and use this road where the lorries will be coming out.’
Diana Peyton, 90, of Orme Square, said she was ‘dead against the whole thing’, adding: ‘I go into the park continually and there’s already enough traffic that’s not meant to be there.’
Responding to claims the proposal was a waste of public money, the council said the work of Historic Royal Palaces is ‘of economic benefit to the nation, London and the Royal Borough’ and it is ‘not for the council’ to decide how it spends its cash.
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