6 Sep 2011

Lakehouse has recently completed a project to develop redundant space into a number of basement flats in Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea. The flats are located in one of the most sought after locations in London, a Victorian Square just off the Kings Road, and are the first additions to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's (RBKC) housing stock for some time. The development of thirteen units, made up of studio, one, two and three bedroom accommodation, has been completed to a good social housing standard. The flats are modern, well lit, and developed with the character of the original building in mind, including the incorporation of York Stone staircases.

The project was funded by the sale of a proportion of redundant units that had lay derelict since the war years, and has seen the development of 13 flats into new units for social housing and key worker schemes. The development was project managed by Pellings LLP, who were initially commissioned to look into the feasibility of developing the redundant basement which were being used by existing tenants as storage rooms and housed many of the services, boilers and piping for the rest of the buildings. RBKC's decision to take the project forward on a self-funding basis resulted in the sale of 23 units to private developers in order to fund the development. By taking an innovative approach to managing and developing their assets, RBKC has increased the size and quality of their housing portfolio; and all at no cost to the Borough or the tax payer.

Councillor Timothy Coleridge, Cabinet Member for Housing Services said: "There have been formidable obstacles, legal, technical and practical, to bringing these basements back to life. I'm delighted to see they have all been overcome. Elm Park Gardens has always been amongst the very best council housing in the country. That we have been able to add more affordable properties there, all funded by new homes for sale, is a source of real pride to us at the Royal Borough."

Kensington & Chelsea TMO Director of Customer Services Sacha Jevans said: "We are pleased to be managing these new homes on behalf of the Council. This new scheme will provide much needed key worker accommodation for those working within the Borough."