Transport for London (TfL) has won its battle to redevelop South Kensington Tube station after the Government overruled a Kensington and Chelsea Council block on the plans.
The development will provide 50 new homes around the Grade-II listed station, and a new accessible station entrance on historic Thurloe Street, alongside step-free access to the District and Circle Lines.
A distinctive building at the front of the station, dubbed ‘The Bullnose’ because of its shape, will also be developed.
Councillors had blocked the development in 2021 in part over heritage fears for the area, which is famous worldwide as the gateway to some of London’s most visited sights, including the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
But in a ruling on Tuesday night, the Planning Inspectorate ruled much of the scheme should be given the go-ahead, putting an end to the long-running planning battle.
TfL’s development partner, Native Land, said: “This decision brings a drawn-out planning process to a positive conclusion, achieving a rare consent for a major mixed-use sustainable development in a central London location.
“This is a high-quality scheme that will protect the heritage of the station while bringing a renewed sense of place to South Kensington.”
But Kensington and Chelsea Council described it as a “disappointing blow”, noting that more than 2,000 people were opposed at initial planning stage.
“We appreciate this station needs development for the good of everyone who uses it, we even gave planning permission back in 2018 to improve the ticket hall, which TfL never implemented,” said Cem Kemahli, the Kensington councillor who leads on planning.
“We have always supported step-free access at all tube stations but given the strength of feeling on the development, we will expect TfL to fully fund step-free access at South Kensington Station, which will have a genuine benefit for visitors, residents and commuters.
“This will allow us to divert our own funding earmarked to support step-free access to other stations which need it, such as Latimer Road, Ladbroke Grove or High Street Kensington.”
However, a proposal to include new shop fronts in the subway which runs from the Tube station to ‘Albertopolis’, the nickname given to the cluster of museums around Exhibition Road, was rejected.
The planning inspectorate said it would detract from the subway’s “special historic and architectural interest”, which has been largely well-preserved since 1885.
A TfL spokesperson said the station changes were currently unfunded, but now planning has been given, it will seek the capital investment needed.
It said “constructive discussions” were underway with the Government for investment on a number of “vital improvements to London’s public transport network”.
