Eldon House Redevelopment: Developer to Fund K&C Public Art
Plans to redevelop Eldon House at 90 Sloane Avenue in Kensington and Chelsea will include a financial contribution from the developer towards public art and cultural activities in the borough. The Kensington and Chelsea Planning Committee granted planning permission for the project, which involves demolishing the existing five-storey building and constructing a six-storey building with retail space and 24 residential units, during their meeting on Tuesday 01 July 2025.
The decision is subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement, a legal agreement between the council and the developer, Tribeca Holdings Limited, to mitigate the impact of the new development. While the specific amount of Tribeca Holdings Limited's contribution towards public art is still under negotiation, it will be formalised through the legal agreement process.
During the meeting, Councillor Sarran raised the question of public art, asking about the council's position on it and how developments can contribute. Officers responded that the definition of public art was being widened to include a culture plan. Due to site constraints, on-site public art may not be feasible. Instead, the developer will likely make a financial contribution towards public art or cultural activities in the borough, overseen by the council's culture team and the community. These activities could encompass a broad range of cultural initiatives, as the definition of public art expands to include a comprehensive culture plan.
The committee also discussed other aspects of the redevelopment, including affordable housing contributions and parking permits. A key point of discussion was the absence of on-site affordable housing. The justification for allowing the development to proceed without it is based on viability concerns. An independent assessor scrutinised the applicant's viability assessment and concluded that there would be a deficit, making an affordable housing contribution unviable. The submitted FVA has demonstrated that the proposals could not accommodate affordable housing off site and could not secure a payment in lieu.
However, an early and late stage review mechanism has been included in the Section 106 agreement to address potential changes in viability over time. The review mechanisms allow the council to revisit the viability and increase contributions if profit increases, capturing real sales values at different stages of the development. According to an officer, there will be triggers within the Section 106 drafting. There will be an early stage review when the development first starts, and a late stage review to capture the real sales values of what's been built.
Councillor Aarien Areti inquired about parking permits, given the addition of four residential units. Officers clarified that the additional four units would be permit-free, and the legal agreement would specify which units would be permit-free, with clear communication in sales materials. Councillor James Husband, Chair of the Planning Committee, confirmed that the existing 20 units would retain their eligibility for parking permits.
The Planning Committee ultimately voted to grant planning permission, with the conditions outlined in section 1.8 of the SO53 Elden House 90 Sloane Avenue SW3 3EA REPORT, noting the addendum report and the need for the Section 106 agreement to be completed by the end of October. Section 1.8 of the report states: The proposed development would comply with policies of the Development Plan as well as complying with the statutory requirements for development within a setting of conservation areas and setting of a listed building. There are no material considerations to suggest a decision other than in accordance with the development plan.