THE SITE

The Kensal Gasworks is owned by St William and lies within the Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area (KCOA). The KCOA is the largest opportunity area in RBKC and the borough’s primary site for housing delivery.

The brownfield site has been allocated by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and RBKC in regional and local policy since 2011 for the provision of around 3,500 or more new homes. This was tested as recently as July 2024 as part of the adoption of the RBKC New Local Plan.

The Kensal Gasworks is bound by the bound by the Grand Union Canal to the north and the Great Western Main Line railway to the south. Beyond the Grand Union Canal lies Kensal Green Cemetery. The land to the east and south of the site is also part of the KCOA and is owned by Ballymore. Beyond this is the Sainsbury’s Superstore and petrol station. All of this area is proposed to be redeveloped.

The land to the west is owned by Cadent, a gas operator. This land is used for operational gas equipment which needs to be retained into the future.

Aerial view of the St William site outlined in white

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Views from different locations looking towards the existing site. Please note the gasholders guide frames have since been decommission and dismantled.

WORKING WITH NEIGHBOURING LANDOWNERS

St William is working closely with Ballymore and Sainsbury’s and have agreed a Collaboration Agreement to ensure a comprehensive redevelopment of the northern parcel of the KCOA is realised.

St William’s design team has worked closely with the Ballymore and Sainsbury’s design team lead led by Faulkner Brown to deliver a coherent masterplan vision.

Ballymore and Sainsburys have now submitted their planning application and you can view their consultation website here.

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SITE HISTORY

Kensal Gasworks was originally land owned by Sir George Talbot before it was bought by the Western Gas Company in 1845.

The gasworks, constructed under the supervision of the engineer George Holdsworthy Palmer, supplied gas to St Pancras, Marylebone, Bloomsbury, Hampstead, Paddington and Chelsea.

The site was bought by the Gas Light and Coke Company in 1872 and by 1896 the gasworks occupied all of the land to the west of Ladbroke Grove between the railway and the canal.

The gasworks closed in 1970. As with many gasworks across the UK, technological changes in the storage of gas to underground mains resulted in gasholders being made redundant, providing the opportunity for the site to be redeveloped and opened up to the public again.

The gasholders have consent for their removal from the site. This process is underway and will continue over the next few months.

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