Planners give nod for major London project

GUERNSEY-based property developer the CPC Group has received planning permission to build luxury homes on the site of two Kensington hotels. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea granted the application earlier in the summer after all 11 councillors unanimously voted in favour of the scheme.

CPC chief operating officer Richard Williams said it was an outstanding result and that they were delighted.

'As far as we are aware, this is the first time a unanimous vote has ever been made in support of a major residential project in the borough.'

CPC Group operates from an office in Le Bordage with 20 staff.

It project-manages some of the most luxurious residential and office developments across the world, with a primary focus on London.

It commissions consultants, contractors, architects and interior designers to carry out the work.

Having already achieved several billion pounds in sales in London in four years in business, it is now turning its attention to the adjacent Thistle hotels, the Kensington Park and the Kensington Palace, which it acquired as a 50-50 joint venture with an unnamed party in April 2006.

The properties have been run as hotels since but, with planning consent now in place, work will soon get under way to construct 97 premium apartments, ranging from studios to four-bedroom accommodation and a five-bedroom penthouse.

The proposed design combines restoration of the best of the existing Victorian buildings with three new high-quality structures.

The project has the full support of English Heritage and the Royal Parks.

Mr Williams said: 'We are thrilled that our plans to create a landmark development have been recognised for the exemplary restoration and introducing a befitting contemporary addition to the environment.'

Architect David Chipperfield said: 'It is an exceptional achievement to have won full support of RBKC - councillors clearly recognise the qualities of the architecture and the positive impact on the townscape.'

The project will be one of the largest restorations to take place in the borough in recent years.

The scheme will include improvements to the run-down Victorian terraces along most of De Vere Gardens and Victoria Road, including the reinstatement of the original residential entrances to street level.

Detailed stone facades with bronze-work to balconies and windows are aimed at ensuring that the new buildings will be among the highest-quality residential buildings in London.