Kensington Forum judicial review delayed
Kensington & Chelsea Council’s judicial review of the mayor of London’s decision to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of the Kensington Forum hotel on Cromwell Road, SW7, has been delayed by a dispute largely about disclosure of documents.
The full hearing of the case had been scheduled for today (21 November), but instead the parties clashed in court in a preliminary skirmish over disclosure and witness evidence.
The matter will return to court at a future date, at which point the council hopes to secure an order quashing the mayor’s approval of a redevelopment with a maximum height of 30 stories that would comprise a 749-bedroom hotel, 340 serviced apartments and 62 affordable homes.
Kensington & Chelsea Council’s judicial review of the mayor of London’s decision to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of the Kensington Forum hotel on Cromwell Road, SW7, has been delayed by a dispute largely about disclosure of documents.
The full hearing of the case had been scheduled for today (21 November), but instead the parties clashed in court in a preliminary skirmish over disclosure and witness evidence.
The matter will return to court at a future date, at which point the council hopes to secure an order quashing the mayor’s approval of a redevelopment with a maximum height of 30 stories that would comprise a 749-bedroom hotel, 340 serviced apartments and 62 affordable homes.
Kensington & Chelsea claims that the grant of permission was “materially influenced by an improper purpose” – the desire to prevent the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government from calling in the application to decide himself. In addition, it alleges that the decision was an “abuse of power” on the part of the mayor.
At the full hearing, lawyers representing the mayor are expected to argue that the grant of planning permission was a lawful one, and should not be quashed.
Following the grant of permission for the case to go ahead earlier this year, Johnny Thalassites, lead council member for planning and transport, said: “We are backing residents all the way, challenging a decision by the mayor to grant planning permission against the wish of the community. We will be proceeding with the judicial review now that the judge has said our case is plainly arguable.
“I am keen to see new developments that create jobs and generate income, but they cannot come at the expense of residents, who have genuine concerns about the plans for the Kensington Forum hotel.”
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