196-222 King’s Road, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

The Challenge

We were instructed by Cadogan Estates in respect of the redevelopment of one of the largest sites on King’s Road.

The existing site included a popular local cinema, as well as residential units, retail floorspace and a public house. It was also situated within a Crossrail 2 safeguarding zone, which added another layer of complexity to the site. Development of the site would need to re-provide the cinema and pub, while also meeting the client’s commercial objectives to provide enhanced retail frontage, and new residential and office accommodation.

The Solution

We led the process of detailed pre-application discussions with RBKC, the GLA, and other key local stakeholders, seeking to balance the different existing and proposed land uses. A key feature of the scheme was to retain the existing art-deco cinema façade, to re-locate the cinema to basement level in order to ensure the potential for retail frontage on King’s Road was optimised. Our development team provided financial viability advice in respect of the level of affordable housing, and contributions towards other S106 obligations.

The Results

We have successfully obtained planning permission and have continued to advise Cadogan Estates to secure scheme amendments and bring the development forward.

The scheme will see the return of an independent 600 seat cinema to the site, together with circa 50 residential units (affordable and market rent), over 2,000 sq m of high quality office space, retail space, replacement public house as well as a roof top bar.