Court victory for council in fight with Mayor over huge hotel plans

A TOWN hall opposed to plans to demolish one of London’s biggest hotels and replace it with a larger development has won the right to bring a legal challenge.

Kensington & Chelsea council was given the go-ahead from the High Court for a judicial review of Sadiq Khan’s decision to grant permission for a £300 million hotel, leisure and housing compex in Cromwell Road.

The review hearing is expected to take place on November 21.

Opponents claim the Mayor acted with “improper purpose” over the development, which comprises 749 hotel rooms and 340 serviced apartments after calling in the application refused by the council.

K&C planning councillor Johnny Thalassites said residents had genuine concerns about the plans for Kensington Forum Hotel.

But Patrick O’Connell, head of hotels at Queensgate Investments, which owns the site, said the project would “deliver significant public benefits” including “numerous jobs” and affordable homes.

A spokesman for Mr Khan said the Mayor was doing “everything he can to build more council and genuinely affordable homes”.