Chelsea residents have hit out at plans which would see an M&S on the Kings Road ‘demolished’.
Controversial plans set to be decided on Thursday by Kensington and Chelsea councillors would see the existing four-storey building with retail units knocked down in favour of a new office block and roof terrace.
However, M&S said it had managed to agree with the landlord its shops would be allowed to remain in retail space at the new development at 81-103 King's Road.
The plans are slated to be approved, but they have attracted 1,365 objections from local residents. Just fifteen residents have submitted messages of support, according to a council report.
Concerns have been raised by nearby residents’ associations over noise, overlooking, and loss of light to their properties.
In a letter of objection, the Smith Street residents’ association said the new terrace would be only thirteen metres away from some residents’ windows meaning for the first time “rear gardens will be overlooked and residents will also have the feeling of being overlooked.”
“The proposed development will have an uncomfortable relationship with the nearby properties and would not ensure good living conditions for neighbouring residents,” the group said.
“The amended proposal would still cause significant harm to their living conditions.”
Objections have also been received by the Chelsea Society, who said it would be “damaging to the heritage and character of the King’s Road and of its surrounding conservation areas.”
The concerns were earlier this year backed by local Conservative MP Greg Hands, who in a letter to the council raised fears of “potential loss of privacy” for some nearby residents.
However, in supporting its proposals, architect Pilbrow & Partners said the existing “buildings date from the 1980s and are of poor quality,” and that an earlier 2021 scheme which was rejected have been revised.
“The proposal carefully preserves the amenity of neighbouring residents living adjacent to the site,” it said.
In a letter, an M&S spokesperson said they had “tough and drawn-out” negotiations with the landlord, British Virgin Islands-based company King’s Road Property, to be allowed to stay, which would “protect the jobs” of staff.
“This means that M&S will remain on the site if their proposed redevelopment gets the go ahead at Thursday’s planning committee meeting,” said the spokesperson.
“The feedback from our loyal local customers has been clear that they want to ensure M&S continues to operate from our current site.”
