Kensington Palace 'mega-basement' plan angers neighbours who claim it flouts council ban 

The Orangery in Kensington Gardens
Plans have been submitted for a two-storey deep basement next to the Grade I listed Queen Anne's Orangery Credit:  National/SWNS

When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge moved into Kensington Palace, their entourage of staff came with them.

But while the relocation from Norfolk has its benefits for the family, with Prince George set to begin at a London prep school in September, it has caused a storm among local residents over plans to develop a £24million "mega-basement" in the palace grounds.

The proposed development will adjoin the Grade I-listed Orangery. It will provide office space for employees of Historic Royal Palaces, who currently work in Kensington Palace but are moving out to make way for the couple's personal staff.

It comprises one storey above ground and two storeys below, all 165ft (50 metres) in length.

But the plans have caused outrage among some local residents because, under Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's planning regulations, applicants are not allowed to build double-storey basements.

The council banned the construction of "mega-basements" in 2014 after a raft of planning applications from millionaire homeowners.

At the time, the council's cabinet member for planning policy, councillor Tim Coleridge, said: "Basements have been the single greatest planning concern our residents have expressed to us in living memory."

Now the council's strict rules will be put to the test. Angry locals say the rules should apply to everyone, with no exemption for royal residences.

Donald Cameron, a retired telecoms executive who has used the park for 35 years,  described it as a "thoroughly shoddy episode".

The 65-year-old said: "This is an historic building and should not be disturbed. There can be no justification for a double basement. The Orangery is a central feature of the park which should be maintained as a peaceful facility for Londoners.

"The planning department seems to have been bedazzled by courtiers when giving pre-application advice."

Other residents have written to the council to share their concerns about plans at the Orangery, which was built between 1704 and 1705, on the commission of Queen Anne.

Resident Patrick Hope-Falkner said: "Is everyone cowed by the involvement of a Royal Palace? No one is above the law. And the law in RBKC is subject to CL7 and the latest SPD (Supplementary Planning Document) on basements.

"Only if the planning department and local planning authority want to drive a coach and horses through their own regulations and guidelines, should this application be allowed to go any further.

"It would be a traumatic development to a listed building and a blatant defiance of the two storey rule to allow it."

KENSINGTON PALACE
Queen Anne's Orangery in the Kensington Palace grounds (top right) Credit: REX FEATURES

Neighbour Marion Gettleson added: "The Orangery has long been a much loved and visited feature of a famous architectural and historical grouping.

"As such, the property should be respected and left alone. The disturbance caused by the excavations etc will cause considerable harm to the surrounding area for a long time.

"While somewhat less venerable, the immediate neighbourhood is also of great architectural, historical and political significance.

"It is very much hoped that other arrangement will be made for the proposed uses for a new basement on this site."

Residents have also raised issues about potential damage to trees and wildlife that would be removed as part of the proposals.

Official plans for the Orangery's mega-basement were submitted to the RBKC by Historic Royal Palaces last month.

The proposed development will include one level above ground and two subterranean levels. It will house palace staff, a kitchen to support the Orangery restaurant and an area to store ceremonial dresses.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to make Kensington Palace their main home along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to make Kensington Palace their main home along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Andrew Langton, chairman of the high-end London estate agency, Aylesford International, estimated the extension will cost around £24 million to build.

The council has so far received 14 objection letters from locals and four letters of support.

Support has come from local bodies and organisations made up of The Science Museum, Exhibition Road Cultural Group, Friend of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, and the Royal Albert Hall.

Historic Royal Palaces defended the proposed basement, which it said will be funded by donations and charity money rather than the taxpayer.

A statement said: "Our plans have been very carefully considered and developed in consultation with stakeholders including the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Historic England.

"As a conservation charity, our priority is to ensure that the new building is sympathetically designed to respect the Grade I Listed Orangery and its historic setting.

"It will comprise two storeys below ground to provide the facilities required, with just a single storey above ground, thus protecting views of the 18th century Orangery and its surrounding landscape.

"The Orangery is not in a residential neighbourhood and the completed development will not affect other properties in the area."

The RBKC said it did not comment on undecided planning applications.

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