Westminster City Council's Strategic Planning Committee has approved plans for 87 new apartments at Phase 5 of the Chelsea Barracks redevelopment, a decision made on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The approval allows for the construction of apartment blocks, replacing the previously consented 20 townhouses. This shift is intended to better meet modern housing needs and optimise site density, aligning with both the Westminster City Plan and the London Plan. The applicant, Qatari Diar, argues that these changes will accelerate the overall development, including Phase 6, by approximately five years compared to the original townhouse scheme.

Architectural rendering of the approved Phase 5 redevelopment at Chelsea Barracks, featuring new apartment blocks.
Architectural rendering of the approved Phase 5 redevelopment at Chelsea Barracks, featuring new apartment blocks.

The 87 new apartments comprise a mix of unit sizes: one unit with one bedroom, 42 units with two bedrooms, and 44 units with three bedrooms. All apartments are 200 sq m or less, with over 50% being family-sized and all two-bedroom dwellings featuring two double bedrooms. This configuration is seen as better reflecting the housing needs in central London and making more efficient use of the land, providing additional good quality homes to help meet the Council's targets.

The approval comes with a £3.6 million contribution to the Council's Affordable Housing Fund and a £655,413 payment to the Council's Carbon Offsetting Fund. The shift from townhouses to apartments is considered to make better use of the land and has resulted in the development generating additional contributions to the affordable housing fund.

3D model of the proposed redevelopment of Phase 5 of Chelsea Barracks, highlighting the new apartment blocks in yellow.
3D model of the proposed redevelopment of Phase 5 of Chelsea Barracks, highlighting the new apartment blocks in yellow.

During the meeting, objectors raised significant concerns regarding the delayed delivery of community facilities and affordable housing in Phase 6 of the development. They highlighted decades of delay in the delivery of the amenities that have been promised to the local community and to the social housing. Specifically, the promised sports centre, shops, play areas, and medical centre have been delayed. With the proposed five-year acceleration of the overall development, objectors noted that the earliest these amenities and social housing would be delivered is 2035, which would be 24 years after the master plan was signed off. They also pointed out that the 126 affordable homes represent families on the waiting list who will face an additional decade of waiting.

While the committee acknowledged these concerns, they stated that imposing a specific deadline for Phase 6 was not a practical planning consideration. The committee also discussed the sustainability of the proposal, noting that while the development aims for net-zero operational carbon, an offsetting contribution is required. The inclusion of air conditioning in the new apartments was a point of discussion but was not deemed sufficient grounds for refusal given the overall benefits of the scheme. The proposal is considered acceptable in terms of its impact on the surrounding townscape and the settings of nearby heritage assets, despite the buildings being larger than what was previously consented.

Further details on the applications considered by the committee can be found in the Public reports pack and the Schedule of Applications.

Aerial view of the proposed Chelsea Barracks redevelopment, Phase 5, showing apartment blocks and green spaces.
Aerial view of the proposed Chelsea Barracks redevelopment, Phase 5, showing apartment blocks and green spaces.