Not until 4:30 on Wednesday morning did the fire services manage to get control over the ferocious fire. Picture courtesy Natalie Oxford (CC BY 4.0)

The shocking Grenfell Tower fire

We are all shocked by the horrific fire that engulfed Grenfell Tower in northern Kensington in the early hours of Wednesday. Shocked not just by the enormous death toll and human suffering, but just as much by the inability of both our council and the government to provide help during the first couple of days to all those who had been made homeless. While the fire services, the police and the ambulances were the heroes we expect them to be, the relief work was left to the local community groups.

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 all annual reports since 1961 can be found in the society archive.

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.

Latest planning news

Newcombe House appeal dismissed for lack of affordable housing

On 12 June 2017, the appeal against the council's refusal of the planning application for the large Newcombe House complex in Notting Hill Gate was refused by the Planning Inspectorate. The inspector did not have any problems with the design, size, height and location of the project, nor with its promised public benefits. But he rejected the appeal as he felt that it should be financially possible for the developer to compensate the loss of 20 affordable flats in Royston Court with a similar offering within the complex or at least within the borough.
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Frogmore's Notting Hill Gate plans approved

On Tuesday 8 November, the council’s planning committee approved developer Frogmore’s plans for refurbishment of the five office buildings in Notting Hill Gate. The committee added a condition about public realm contributions to each of the three applications, totalling £120,000, but otherwise accepted them as they were.
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Upcoming society events (click to see all)

Guided walk around Notting Dale

Out of respect for all those affected by the horrendous Grenfell Tower fire, Kensington Society has decided to cancel the Notting Dale walk which was planned for Tuesday 20 June. The walk was to go very close to the area, and the charred building would have been a constant, towering reminder of the horrible disaster.
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Natural History Museum private viewing

The private viewing of the Natural History Museum's new Hintze Hall, scheduled for 27 July 2017, has been postponed until November.
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Page updated 19/06/2017