I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who signed this petition objecting to Ballymore's plans for "Project Flourish".

With over 7.500 signatures this petition clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling in our local community and the need for a wider debate on alternative solutions to the housing crisis..

Building more high rise 'gulag' tower block "villages" on toxic brownfield gas works sites is NOT the answer.

UK Toxic Gasworks Developments

Reports from other UK cities where similar gasworks developments have been carried our (Bath, Manchester,  Liverpool, York and in London (Southall, Fulham and Lea bridge) where residents have become sick from inhaling toxic gas and dust  (eg.Benzene, Toluene, Cyanide, Asbestos, VOC's ) are quite simply shocking!  This is a public health scandal exposed by the Guardian  and the work of campaigner Angela Fonso and the umbrella group GCU (Gasworks Communities United).

These developments have done little to solve the housing crisis - rather their legacy is increased air pollution, lack of affordable housing, units pre-sold to overseas investors, environmental damage to heritage sites and wild life sanctuaries and horrific stories of health imp;acts leading to increased Asthma in children and respiratory disease.

Ballymore_Project Flourish

Ballymore submitted their original proposal for project Flourish in October 2023. It was rejected by the GLA in January 2024 and nearly 2 years later we are still waiting for RBKC Planning to make a decision. The latest information we have is that RBKC Planning is likely to meet in November 2025.

St William (additional development plan)

In the meantime, St William (part of the Berkeley Group who were responsible for the ill fated development in Southall) have re-appeared and submitted their application to develop the adjacent part of the Sainsburys site (see area highlighted in red i n attached screen shot) where the old Kensal Gasworks gasometers used to be.

It's no surprise that their application features more tower blocks ( up to 31 storeys) which will dominate the landscape, block out light, cast Kensal Green Cemetery into shadow and subject residents to another 15 years of construction noise,  chemical stench, health impacts from remediating the contaminated site while they conduct further investigations into the location of p;possible UXO's (unexploded WWII bombs).

Imagine taking Kentish Town and stuffing it behind Sainsbury's, squeezing 10,000 people into an island  gulag of over dense tower blocks with only one access point in Ladbroke Grove,

This - is the 'Vertical Village' solution to the housing crisis that the Labour Government want us to embrace!

Next Steps:

I will shortly be delivering our petition to RBKC to ensure all your comments are captured.

We were only given 2 months to object to St Williams plan (the area highlighted in red)

***Today is the final chance to object***

If you would also like to express your views on St William;s plan - go to the Keep Kensal Green website for details

or use the Quick Objection tool for mobile users

Thank you all for your support!