Plans to replace existing InLink units with larger Street Hub 3 units on Kensington High Street and Notting Hill Gate have been deferred due to resident objections. The applicant for the Street Hub 3 installations is BT Telecommunications PLC.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Kensington and Chelsea Planning Applications Committee on Tuesday, 12 August 2025.
The committee considered applications PP/25/01372 and CA/25/01373 for Kensington High Street, and PP/25/01431 and CA/25/01432 for Notting Hill Gate. Both sets of applications proposed removing existing InLink Units and replacing them with Street Hub 3 units, including two 75-inch LCD display screens for advertisements.
The proposed replacement Street Hub 3 unit would be 1.236m wide, 0.35m deep and 2.986m tall. The existing InLink Unit is 0.889m wide, 0.28m deep and 2.986m tall. The increased width of the unit is a specific feature that is causing concern.
According to the applicant, the proposed BT Hub enabled the provision of 5G connection for communication purposes and the current InLink's are nearly at the 'end of its life, technology wise'. The replacement BT Hubs would facilitate the necessary change for access to wifi and contact services.
According to the supplementary papers, the Planning Applications Committee had previously considered the applications on 10 June 2025, but deferred the decision. This was to allow the applicant to provide further information on data usage, functionality, and justification for the new hubs being larger than the existing units.
The applicant has since provided data on site-specific call and Wi-Fi usage. The call data confirms the specific amounts of calls for a variety of uses, including calls to the emergency services and charities. They also addressed concerns regarding:
- Site-specific technology of the existing BT Link and any current deficiencies
- Site-specific details of the proposed use and functionality of the BT Hub, including details on data
- Site-specific technology of the proposed BT Hub that would be upgraded
- Site-specific reasoning why the screens are increasing in size
Despite this additional information, the committee has decided to defer the applications again.
Three objections were received for each location, raising concerns about the size, scale and massing of the proposed BT Hub and its potential impact on the streetscene. The Planning Applications Committee was concerned about the size, scale and massing of the proposed BT Hub and its potential impact on this part of Kensington High Street, particularly the streetscene. Similar concerns were raised for a location on Notting Hill Gate within the Pembridge Conservation Area. The committee shared these concerns, particularly regarding the visual impact on the Kensington and Pembridge Conservation Areas.
It is not yet known when the applications will be reconsidered.
