Have your say in RBKC Planning Policy: Defining “affordable housing”, plus a say in how £2.6 million of NCIL money gets spent

Another day, another RBKC consultation? No, please come back!! Before the eyes of our local readers glaze over and people let out sighs of collective exasperation, let THINK just briefly explain why we strongly recommend that all our RBKC resident readers take part in this consultation.

The easiest way to respond is via this quick survey (which should only take a couple of minutes to complete);

https://www.givemyview.com/rbkcncilpriorities

“Affordable” housing

Kensington and Chelsea could actually be the first council to get rid of that rather ludicrous term as they are asking for residents to define it. We were actually quite pleasantly surprised to see that our council is asking residents to define what constitutes affordable housing here

Genuinely affordable housing, the way we see it, ought to mean being affordable to people on average income living here. Of course different people will have various definitions of what constitutes affordable (this, by the way, relates to the RBKC “Local Plan” – not the “London Plan” which has its own defintions – and that’s not a situation we’re happy about – that’s a matter for another post….), but this is a way forward to get a general consensus from local residents over this.

Neighbourhood funding: Have your say in how £2.6 million is spent

Just in case some people are still not convinced that responding to this is a good idea, there is also an opportunity to have your say in what on and where £2.6million of Neighbourbood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) money goes.

So far there are many good suggestions from residents and we are liking suggestions about a garden waste recycling service, better and more bicycle parking provided in the far north of the borough, more greenery in some parts of the borough like Earl’s Court and around Holland Park Avenue, and more allotment spaces provided (we’ve heard that there is a very long waiting lists for RBKC Community Kitchen Garden spaces at the timebeing). These are just a few things and we know that many residents have even more ideas and suggestions for improvements.

THINKers haven’t lost the plot and this blog is definitely not an advertisement for our council!

But when there are times they are taking measures to do something right, we will support them, so we urge RBKC to please treat ALL responses to this from residents equally here.

If our readers would like to read the planning policy document in full and give more detailed responses, the link is here:

https://planningconsult.rbkc.gov.uk/consult.ti/system/listConsultations?type=O