November Report

EARL'S COURT SOCIETY

PLANNING & CONSERVATION GROUP (with Licensing)

Report to ECS ExCo

Tuesday, 1st November 2022

1. Planning and licensing activity remains busy in Earl’s Court. We meet monthly to review all new applications and respond when necessary. We also hold extraordinary meetings to respond to consultations. Unfortunately, our September meeting was cancelled due to the period of national mourning; our routine meetings resumed in October after the summer break.

2.  Earl’s Court Food & Wine have submitted a premises licence variation. We have objected to the proposal to extend their licenced hours into the early morning hours. Our view is that sale of alcohol after midnight, the generally accepted terminal hour in RBKC, would be contrary to licensing objectives b) prevention of crime and disorder, c) public safety and d) prevention of public nuisance. The application will be heard by the RBKC Licensing Committee on Thursday, 24^th November 2022.

3. We successfully objected to the application (CA/21/06917) for a scrolling digital billboard outside the station on Warwick Rd. This location has changed significantly since the Exhibition Centre was demolished and it is now surrounded only by residential properties in Conservation Areas. The application was refused, and JC Decaux appealed. The Inspector dismissed the appeal. JC Decaux submitted a revised proposal (CA/22/02518). We again objected, however permission was granted for a smaller unit. It is worth noting that, as we requested, meaningful Conditions were attached to the permission including “The advertisements shall not be illuminated between 23:00 hours and 07:00 hours the following day.”

4. The Earl’s Court Health & Wellbeing Centre has applied for a shutter to eliminate the problematic rear exit in Earl’s Court Gardens (PP/22/04640). This is a long standing ASB hot spot and the ECS and our ward councillors have worked with the GP surgery on practical common-sense solutions. We have submitted representations in support the application.

5. We met several times with the planning officers preparing the Earl’s Court Placemaking Framework. We have seen a first draft of their report and provided feedback. The document will now go out for consultation. Please submit your comments via the online response form https://planningconsult.rbkc.gov.uk/ECPlacemaking. There will also be an in person exhibition on Thursday, 3^rd November 2022 from 4:30-7:00 PM at St Cuthbert with St Matthias School.

6. We continue to review all new shopfront applications and, where possible, to engage with applicants directly to encourage changes which would improve and enhance the streetscape. There are numerous anticipated applications and we will continue with our cooperative, consultative early engagement with applicants where this is feasible.

7. A sub-group has formed focussed on the emerging Earl’s Court development site project and emerging Masterplan which meets separately from the routine monthly Planning & Licensing Group meetings. We are pleased to report that the decision has been taken to work cooperatively with the Kensington Society on this initiative, where possible.

8. Please save our new subgroup email address to your list of safe senders planning@earlscourtsociety.com.

9. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 8th November 2022 at 6:30 PM. Then the first Tuesday of each month other than December and August