An Inspector has allowed an appeal made by Family Mosaic (now part of Peabody) for conversion of two large blocks of studio apartments off Nevern Square, in Kensington, which had for many decades been made available, on affordable terms, to provide a series of new self-contained one and two bedroom flats. The Inspector, in his decision, accepted that, notwithstanding the history of occupation, the studios were not to be considered as of affordable tenure for the purposes of planning policy and in so doing distinguished the decision of the Secretary of State in the William Sutton appeal of 2018. The Inspector also concluded that the proposal comprised a full configuration of the internal space and, as such, the policies which restrict amalgamation of units were not engaged.

A copy of the decision letter can be accessed here.

The Appellant was represented by Douglas Edwards KC, instructed by Julian Carter and Iain Buzza, of Savills.