NEWS | Portobello Road set for transformation as final regeneration phase gets green light
The final phase of the masterplan will deliver hundreds of new homes, vibrant public spaces, and enhanced connectivity to the heart of Portobello.
At committee on 4th March 2025, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) approved the third and final phase of the Wornington Green masterplan, set to reinvigorate the iconic Portobello Road with 57% affordable housing and a diverse mix of tenures to support a balanced, inclusive community.
Phase 3 builds on earlier stages of the masterplan, responding to the character of the borough while increasing density, introducing new community facilities, and enhancing public realm, and connectivity. Shaped through close collaboration with local residents, the scheme aims to create a welcoming, inclusive neighbourhood rooted in place and community.
Reinstating the rhythm of Portobello Road and responding to the area’s unique character, the development prioritises the public realm and community infrastructure. The perimeter of the site includes:
- A transformed public realm that places pedestrians first, with a new inclusive landscape comprising green spaces, play areas, and places to sit and gather. Designed as a series of welcoming thresholds, the landscape reinforces the identity of Portobello Road while providing flexible spaces for markets, events, and everyday life. New pedestrian and cycle links reconnect the site to the surrounding neighbourhood, enhancing connectivity and promoting a sense of openness and ease.
- A new community centre, co-designed with local residents and the local authority, will form the civic heart of the neighbourhood. Hosting a range of cultural, social, and enterprise uses, it becomes a platform for collaboration, learning, and creativity.
- An active green space and landscaped adventure playground offering opportunities for nature-based play, growing, and foraging, celebrating outdoor activity and encouraging intergenerational engagement with the landscape. At the heart of the block, a calm, green courtyard offers a shared place of retreat, fostering neighbourly ties and enriching the residential environment.
- A diverse residential offer delivering approximately 368 new homes in the second phase alone, as part of a wider plan to create over 1,000 homes. 57% of the new housing will be affordable, including social rent and shared ownership, with all current tenants guaranteed new homes within the scheme.
“Phase 3 will complete the Wornington Green development, but importantly provide new public spaces and community facilities. This phase will offer a strong sense of place and neighbourhood for the local community and visitors, reinforced by new pedestrian connections and a focus on the quality of new streets”.
Nick Edler, Associate Director at Conran and Partners
