Houseboats in Chelsea: Planning inspectorate quashes enforcement action
The Planning Inspectorate has quashed enforcement action against two large houseboats in Chelsea.
The Council issued enforcement notices in May requiring two houseboats – The Zephyr and The Pacifica – to be removed permanently from the moorings. An appeal was lodged by the Chelsea Yacht and Boat Company with the Planning Inspectorate.
In October, the Planning Inspectorate held a two-day hearing. As part of the appeal process, the Council presented its case for the enforcement action to the Planning. You can see all documents related to the case including the case the Council submitted via our planning applications portal.
The Planning Inspectorate publish its decision on Friday, 1st November 2024. You can read the decision notice in full on the Planning Inspectorate website and entering 3345933 into the case search.
“Residents challenged us to protect Chelsea and its iconic riverside and this Council fought to do everything we could to meet that challenge,” Cllr Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning and public realm, said. “It is bitterly disappointing that the Planning Inspectorate has quashed the enforcement notice the Council issued against the very large houseboats at Cheyne Walk. I believe we put forward a very strong case but unfortunately it did not go our way and we must accept the ruling of the Inspectorate.”
Read about the history of this case and the Council’s initial enforcement notice in our news story from May 2024 and the discussion by the planning applications committee in December 2023.
For more updates on Kensington & Chelsea, visit EyeOnLondon Kensington & Chelsea.
