Kensington and Chelsea Approves Sunningdale Gardens Amalgamation Against Advice
Councillors in Kensington and Chelsea have approved a planning application to amalgamate two flats at 1 and 1A Sunningdale Gardens, despite a recommendation for refusal from planning officers.
The Planning Applications Committee granted permission on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, reversing an unauthorised conversion that had divided the property into two separate dwellings. The decision hinged on what councillors described as the special circumstances of its ownership structure and its history as a single-family home
, according to the meeting minutes.
Glenn Christon, the agent for the applicant, explained that the property had been a single-family home since the 1970s. However, a leasehold was created for the basement flat in 2015 due to the applicant's mother's financial and legal difficulties, which were made worse by her prior divorce to the applicant's father.
He argued that the basement flat was substandard, with limited daylight and privacy, and prone to flooding. Planning officer stated that policy HA1 relates to amalgamations, and says that they may be granted in exceptional circumstances where both units are substandard. She said that in this case, officers considered both the basement flat and the flat above to be of an acceptable standard.
Despite the officer's recommendation, councillors voted to approve the application. Councillor Anne Cyron proposed a motion to grant the application, which was seconded by Councillor Emma Dent Coad.
Councillor Emma Dent Coad voiced initial scepticism, stating she found the agent's arguments about the basement flat unconvincing, as many people live in similar conditions
.
Ultimately, councillors sided with the applicant, citing the property's history as a single-family home and the unique circumstances surrounding its division. Councillor Anne Cyron proposed a motion to approve the application, which was subsequently seconded by Councillor Emma Dent Coad. The provided text doesn't explicitly state why Councillor Dent Coad changed her mind, but she did second the motion to grant the application for Sunningdale Gardens.
The approval includes standard conditions for a time limit and adherence to approved plans.