A multi-million pound deal has been struck to bring new housing to North Kensington and secure the future of a college.
The council has agreed to purchase the 1.25 acre Kensington and Chelsea College site on Wornington Road in a £25 million deal.
Both parties have hailed the deal as a win-win arrangement which will help alleviate the housing crisis and benefit education in the area.
The decision to buy was taken by the council’s Cabinet in April and a professional team will be commissioned to explore design and planning options for new housing as well as replacement community and educational facilities.
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Following the sale the council will acquire the freehold and the college, based in Hortensia Road, Chelsea, will have a guaranteed space on the Wornington Road site for as long as it decides to have one, in the current building for at least the next two or three years, and then in any new development that might be built in the future.
The council will now develop plans to put before the planning committee, with options including the building of new private and affordable homes through a partnership with a private rented sector developer while retaining part of the site for wider community and educational use.
Deputy council leader and head of housing, property and regeneration at the council, Cllr Rock Feilding-Mellen, said: “We believe this site offers a number of opportunities for the council. It means much-needed new housing can be built on land acquired by the council.
“Of course the site will not only be used for new housing. It will also have a strong community and educational use component which will be consulted on and secured through the planning process.”
And Mark Brickley, chief executive and principal of the college, which also provides adult education . He added: “This project will allow Kensington and Chelsea College to achieve its continuing vision to meet the current and future needs of students, employers and the community of North Kensington and beyond. It will allow the college the opportunity to operate from facilities across the borough that have been specifically designed to meet the challenges of 21st century learning.
“The project provides a unique opportunity for the college to acquire newly built space on the existing Wornington Road site; allow for post-16 educational provision to continue in North Kensington whilst redevelopment is taking place; and, at the same time further enhance facilities for learners in Chelsea .”
The decision comes after the council said it was looking into demolishing nearby Silchester Estate in a regeneration move it says will increase the number of properties available.
See Sadiq Khan address the capital's housing crisis during his first Mayor's Question Time at City Hall
