The Kensington Society

Welcome to the website of the Kensington Society.

Formed in 1953, the Kensington Society strives to ensure that our part of London retains its magnificent heritage of buildings, parks and gardens alongside the best of contemporary architecture and design.

With more than 700 members and some 30 affiliated societies, we are very active in planning issues and exert a real influence on planning decisions in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

Events

We also have a programme of lectures, talks, walks and visits, covering a wide range of subjects.  The events offer the chance to meet your Kensington neighbours. All upcoming society events can be found here.

Annual report

Our annual report is produced in the spring and has both an update report on the activities of the society as well as interesting and topical articles relating to Kensington. The most recent annual report can be read here, and most annual reports since 1954 can be found in the society archive.

Newsletter

Our newsletter is produced in the autumn. The most recent newsletter can be read here, and all newsletters since 2006 can be found in the society archive.

Membership

The annual membership subscription is £15 and you can join here.

Text updated 06/04/2020

The news blog (click here to see all)

Subscribe to the council’s Covid newsletters

The council’s weekly email newsletters (at times even more often) are probably the best way for Kensington residents to be stay updated about changes to council services and new government instructions during the Covid-19 pandemic - and it’s very easy to subscribe to them.
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Building work allowed until 9pm – every day except Sunday

With immediate effect, building sites can extend their working hours without seeking permission if it is "short term" or "modest", or seek permission to extend the hours in residential areas up to to 9pm every day, Monday-Saturday. Councils are basically under orders from the government to approve all such applications, and do so within 10 working days.
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Notting Hill Carnival cancelled this year

Because of Covid-19, there will be no Notting Hill Carnival in late August this year. The arrangers recognise that social distancing would be impossible for an event that tends to attract one million people.
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Latest planning news (click here to see all)

Newcombe House: Third public hearing

The Newcombe House scheme’s third public hearing was held in the Grand Plaza Kensington Hotel during the first and second weeks of November. A decision from the Planning Inspectorate is expected in April or May.
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Update: New Kensington Forum application approved by Khan

After a public hearing in City Hall on Friday 21 June, London mayor Sadiq Khan decided to grant planning permission for the revised Kensington Forum Hotel application, subject to the completion of a legal agreement. His decision, which includes the approval of a new 102 meter high hotel that will be the highest building in the borough, went against the wishes of all local residents' associations, the RBKC council, and Kensington's MP, Emma Dent Coad.
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Upcoming society events (click here to see all)

No events until further notice

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, and the government's advice for everyone to avoid social gatherings in order to minimise the spread of the virus, Kensington Society will not be holding any events until further notice.
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The Kensington Society AGM postponed

The The Kensington Society's 2020 annual general meeting, which was planned for Monday 18 May, has been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Hopefully our intended guest speaker, the architect, TV presenter and Kensington resident George Clarke, will still be available when the AGM eventually can be held.
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