A drugs intervention centre has been given permission to move to Earl's Court despite opposition from residents and businesses.
Kensington and Chelsea Council has granted an application to turn three floors of 198-200 Earl's Court Road into a centre to be used by social services, the police Safer Kensington and Chelsea Scheme and the borough's drug and alcohol action team.
The Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) is currently based in Allen Street, Kensington, but will move as its lease expires. The new Earl's Court premises will include a series of counselling rooms and a group room for meetings. Up to 10 addicts are expected to attend the centre each day.
But the move has sparked concerns from the community, who fear that it may cause a rise in antisocial behaviour and crime.
The bar manager of the Prince of Teck pub in Earl's Court Road wrote to the council to protest.
He said: "People under the influence of drugs tend to exhibit antisocial behaviour.
"These are very hard financial times and most businesses in the area have noticed a dramatic slump in trade due to rising costs and the credit crunch.
"A site such as the one you are proposing will be just another hurdle to make our already tough position even harder.
"I'm aware there are some good honest people out there trying to kick their habit and they deserve all the help and encouragement they can get. But Earl's Court Road is not an appropriate site for this to occur."
Worried residents added that they would not feel safe to use nearby shops and spoke of their 'horror' at the application.
A report written by the executive director of planning and borough development David Prout stated: "This has been supported throughout by the Metropolitan Police Service. This support is clearly based on the success of the existing Kensington DIP service, which on the available evidence has not resulted in increased crime in the locality or complaints from residents or businesses."
The decision to grant the planning application was passed on July 29.
