November Newsletter
November update from the Village
Dear Members and Supporters,
In this issue we cover, as briefly as possible:
1. Newcombe House/Beltane update
2. RBKC’s Growth and Delivery Team consultation, and “Community Working Group”
3. RBKC Draft Trees and Development SPD Consultation
4. Akub restaurant (ex Malabar) licensing/planning
5. Film shoots in the Village
6. Security alert (cold callers)
7. Victorian Society online lectures
8. Let's Talk K&C Events – “Help us to become the best Council for you” consultation
9. Local Xmas Charity appeals
Plus a “bonus item” for those who read that far!
Newcombe House/Beltane
Following our September newsletter we were most grateful to receive many thoughtful comments from you last month. We considered this feedback carefully as we prepared our second set of formal comments, liaising as before (and combined in one document with) Campden Hill Residents' Association and the Pembridge Association. The “3RA” comments were then shared with Beltane and relevant Councillors.
Your feedback on the appearance of the new brick building on Kensington Church Street was generally favourable, but there remained concerns over many other aspects of the development, including:
• Height and massing (overdevelopment) on all sections of the development
• The glass façade and lightbox effect, particularly on the Gate
• Overshadowing/overlooking, particularly for Hillgate Village
• Inadequate growing room for the Newcombe tree (outside Waterstones)
• The lack of architectural relationship with the village
• Security at the Uxbridge street and Notting Hill Gate (NHG) entrances
• Long-term maintenance of greenery, at ground level and upper levels
• Viability of new offices in the post-covid environment
• Parking, if there is a new medical facility.
We hope that our comments will influence the final shape of the plans which Beltane aim to submit in the first quarter of next year, and we are seeking further meetings with Beltane and relevant Councillors.
RBK&C’s Growth and Delivery Team consultation and “Community Working Group”
We attended the consultation meeting in October on the Council’s Notting Hill Gate (NHG) Local Action Plan:
More recently, 3 Residents’ Associations attended the first meeting of the NHG Action Plan “Community Working Group” on November 15th, run by the planning department’s “Growth and Delivery” team. This echoes the 1990s “Notting Hill Improvement Group”; an attractive Newcombe redevelopment would obviously make a major contribution to that initiative. We will continue to engage with this team.
Draft Trees and Development Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Consultation
This consultation aims to replace RBKC’s 2010 “Trees and Development SPD. The introductory text says it is “vital that they are protected on or near development sites”; clearly this has relevance for the Newcombe tree. We assume that some of the topics, such as “tree protection plans“, are viewed in this context, as well as the other major sites in RBKC.
We will coordinate a response with other Residents' Associations, but if any of you write a personal submission, please email it to planningpolicy@rbkc.gov.uk copying hillgatevillage@outlook.com so that we are informed on your views. If you respond the other way, we will miss your input.
Akub restaurant (formerly Malabar)
Another matter which continues to concern us is the repeated licensing and planning applications for the Akub restaurant. The applicants are pushing for longer licensing hours and greater use of the rear terrace area. We are concerned – as always with licensing – at the precedent for other such establishments in the village.
Filming
Thanks again for your cooperation on the recent photo shoots in the Village. These have generated some financial contributions to HVRA which were much needed, following the expenses relating to the second planning enquiry in 2019 and the hiatus in membership dues through Covid.
Security alert (cold callers)
As you may have seen on the “Nextdoor” app, there was a recent posting by the police warning of an upsurge in cold calling at front doors; and there was a sinister example we are aware of in the village. Please take care about answering your door to strangers, and demand ID when appropriate.
Victorian Society online lectures
On a happier note, there is an excellent series of online lectures by the Victorian society, available on their website:
Victorians at Home Online Talk Series (7 talks for the price of 6) Tickets | Eventbrite
The three already given were recorded, and the remaining one includes local subject Leighton House (in December). At £40 for 7, these are good value - and help support the good work of the Vic Soc. The revamped Leighton House in Holland Park Road and Linley Sambourne house – the Victorian Society’s birthplace - at 18 Stafford Terrace, are well worth visiting.
Let's Talk K&C Events – “Help us to become the best Council for you”
This is a wide ranging consultation by the RBKC’s “Corporate Strategy Team”, complementing a more specific one on Grenfell. Some of you may like to fill this in:
Let's Talk K&C - Kensington and Chelsea's Consultation and Engagement Hub - Citizen Space (rbkc.gov.uk)
Christmas Charity: Ukranian Christmas Carols and Kensington + Chelsea Foundation appeal
Petru, who organised April's charity concert, is organising another Fundraising concert at the same location - this time celebrating Ukrainian Christmas Carols - on Wednesday the 7th of December, also St John's Notting Hill, W11 2NN. Absolutely all the money raised is going to British-Ukrainian Aid (ch. no. 1164472) for the purchase of medical supplies inside Ukraine.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ukrainian-christmas-carols-fundraising-concert-st-johns-notting-hill-tickets-451709103087
The performers are Ukrainian music professionals and students from the Royal Academy of Music, as well as an assortment of UK instrumentalists accompanying them.
Some of the carols to be performed:
Carol of the Bells
Dobryi Vechir Tobi
In The Spotless Field of Oberon
Sleep Jesus Sleep
Heaven and Earth are now Celebrating
And many more, from both the Ukrainian and English Christmas repertoires!
Please join them for a warm and memorable night of music raising money for a much needed cause!
Also, this local charity issued a Christmas appeal which you may wish to consider:
Donate | The Kensington + Chelsea Foundation (thekandcfoundation.com)
...and finally!
Thanks for reading this far; you may enjoy this “Minutes of History” with bouncing balls, viewed 7.5 million times:
https://twitter.com/WallStreetSilv/status/1588916550882336768?s=20&t=XTj7jmrVXpAiHf0l37vTKA
September Newsletter
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Our deepest condolences to The Royal Family on the sad death of Her Majesty The Queen.
Please note that there are no physical Books of Condolence at Kensington Palace or any other Royal residences; instead there is a virtual Book of Condolence on the Royal website here:
Newcombe House Development Forum meeting on 28th September
Since our July newsletter we have lodged comments with Beltane (the new developers of Newcombe House) and Councillors, after discussion with fellow Residents Associations (CHRA and Pembridge). We hope these will produce some positive amendments to these proposals at the 28th September Development Forum meeting, for which you should have received the attached notice (see below). If you plan to attend, please arrive early, to look at any plans and images Beltane provide. (It is at Essex Church, with doors opening at 5.30pm).
We believe it is important to engage now with these outline proposals, and we would be grateful for any constructive feedback you may like to send us (at hillgatevillage@outlook.com). The development must have long term economic viability, and make a positive contribution to the cityscape and to the surrounding community.
Depending how the Sept 28th meeting goes, we may arrange our delayed AGM later this autumn (virtual or otherwise) giving an opportunity to discuss the new owner’s ideas. The issues raised in our comments on the previous draft proposals included retention of the “Newcombe tree” by Waterstones, height and massing to the rear, the design and nature of the proposed ground floor retail/food and beverage proposals and the danger of creating more empty office space. Please let us know your thoughts when you have seen the latest plans.
Farmers' Market move
London Farmers' Markets (LFM) moved the market to Fox School starting on August 27, and trading seems good. Their planning application (view and comment here PP/22/05047) Includes two key policies – a Noise Prevention Plan and a Vehicle Servicing Plan. The application is for temporary permission, so that suitability for longer term use of the site can be considered. As of Sept 8th there were around 50 supporting comments on the RBKC website.
We met with Cllr Faulks and two members in Kensington Place on July 30 to discuss potential noise/vehicle concerns and we believe LFM are endeavouring to manage those policies correctly; but we are keeping in touch with nearby residents and LFM to try to ensure that they do so.
July Newsletter
Newcombe Update
Dear Members and Supporters,
Some of you may know that Brockton recently sold the Newcombe House site, rather than proceeding with their scheme finally approved in 2020.
The buyer was Beltane, a London developer specialising in refurbishing offices, backed by a large New York firm - Angelo Gordon. It is worth visiting their websites:
beltaneglobal.com
https://www.angelogordon.com
So we are now back to square one, but we do know that they anticipate refurbishing Newcombe House, under a quite different scheme from Brockton’s.
They laid out their “tentative ideas“ at a meeting on the 20th June with Residents' Associations and Councillors, but they do not anticipate lodging their new application until next year. Their ideas are office led, rather than residential. Above and below are a couple of images which they provided, showing their proposals from the front (Notting Hill Gate/Ken Church Street) and rear, giving a flavour of their ideas.
It is still very early days but we will be going back to them, and liaising with other Residents' Associations, to try to represent the viewpoint of the village.
We will keep you posted.
Major changes to bus routes in our area
Transport for London (TfL) is consulting on major changes to Central London bus routes, many of which will affect Kensington and Chelsea.
Earls Court including changes to routes 27, 328 and C3 in Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea
South Kensington including changes to routes 14, 19, 49, 72, 74, 272, 283, 414, and 430 in Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster, Hounslow, and Ealing
West London at night including the following 24 hour and ‘N’ prefixed routes: 14, 27, N16, N27, N72, N74, and new routes N414 and N430
Withdraw the following bus routes: 4, 11, 12*, 14*, 16, 24*, 31, 45, 72, 74, 78, 242, 349, 521, C3, D7, N11, N16, N31, N72, N74, and N242 (*24 hour routes)
We strongly encourage our members to review and comment on how these proposals will affect you. TfL have extended the deadline to Sunday 7 August. Information on the changes and links for feedback can be found here: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/busreview
Notting Hill Carnival - Residents' Meeting
The Notting Hill Carnival takes place this year from Saturday 27 to Monday 29 August. The organisers are holding a residents' meeting about the event, and members are very welcome to attend. Details as follows:
Date: Monday 11 July 2022
Time: 18:30 to 20:00
Venue: The Tabernacle, 34-35 Powis Square, W11 2AY
Our thanks to our colleagues at SEBRA (South East Bayswater Residents' Association) for the information.
Kensington and Chelsea Festival 1 July – 31 August 2022
Kensington and Chelsea Festival offers a host of activities across the borough including indoor performances, art installations and free outdoor pop up family shows.
Take a look at what's on offer here: https://www.kcfestival.co.uk
June Newsletter
Reimagining Notting Hill Gate
Earlier this year, Kensington and Chelsea Council and the London Festival of Architecture launched a design competition inviting architects, landscape architects, designers, artists and creatives to reimagine Notting Hill Gate, and contribute to the long term improvements of the area. Six shortlisted designs have been selected which involve seating, greening, lighting, artwork and more. An online and in-person exhibition has been launched to showcase these designs and invite feedback from residents and the local community.
Your feedback will guide our expert panel of competition judges, including Catherine Faulks, Amy Frearson, Sue Harris, Sophia Massey Cook, Anda Winters and Max de Rosee to select the competition winner.
Shortlist exhibition: 22nd - 30th June Kensington Central Library 12 Phillimore Walk, London W8 7RX
Opening Times: 9:30am - 8pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:30am - 5pm Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Can't make the exhibition?
Visit and vote on the exhibition online via this RBKC page:
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/newsroom/have-your-say-new-high-street-installation-notting-hill-gate
Timescales:
Winner announced: July 2022
Installation reveal: Early 2023