Native Land & TFL Plan South Kensington Revamp

RSHP-designed proposals are seeking to deliver 50 new homes, improved retail and office space, and a new entrance to South Kensington Station.

Native Land and TfL have gone back to local residents with some freshly-tweaked plans for the area around South Kensington Station, as the station upgrade gathers steam.

The RSHP-designed proposals originally revealed in May 2019 have been updated to deliver 50 new homes along with revamped retail and office space, and a new entrance to the tube.

The process has so far involved three public exhibitions, five pop-up stalls, six meetings with resident associations and accessibility forums, seven meetings with councillors, and another seven meetings with cultural institutions.

The historic terrace running from Nos. 20-34 Thurloe Street is being restored and redeveloped as part of the plans, and specialist conservation practice Julian Harrap Architects has now been appointed for the restoration works.

Meanwhile, the height of the “bullnose” building has been reduced and reworked to reflect a “more contextual”  design and materiality; the proposed restaurant on the top floor is no more.

Pelham Street will also see some changes, with the creation of new resi and commercial accommodation. The ground floor retail element is going in at the western end, next to the station, with affordable housing at the other.

The designs also seek to reconnect Pelham Place and Thurloe Square, with the addition of further “high-quality residential accommodation” and a “building of outstanding quality completing the square”.

35% of the resi units will be classified as affordable, according to the proposals.

The timeframe includes a 2023 start on site, and a 2.5 year build programme. The station (which is used by 34m people a year) will continue to operate throughout, and the partners estimate the project will support 250 new jobs and generate almost £1m in additional business rates for RBKC per year.