Turkmenistan embassy and consulate at 53 Victoria Road, Kensington, London W8

“PP/26/03027 Agenda Item: N084 Address:53 Victoria Road, LONDON, W8 5RH Proposal: Change of use from single family dwelling (Use Class C3) to facilitate use as an Embassy and Consulate of Turkmenistan (Sui Generis); installation of flag pole, National Emblem and signage Applicant: [the applicant]: [name withheld] Properties notified:Objections:Support:Comments:Petition: 0 8000 Conservation area:De Vere 1.Summary 1.1The application seeks planning permission for the…”

“/PP/26/03027:2 1.5The proposed flagpole, National Emblem and signage are considered to be appropriate features associated with the diplomatic use and, subject to conditions, would preserve the character and appearance of the De Vere Conservation Area. 1.6Objections received from interested parties have been taken into consideration and are addressed throughout the report and in Section 8.”

“The site is located within the De Vere Conservation Area, 3.2Victoria Road is located within an area of the Borough where there is an established presence of diplomatic and allied uses. A number of Embassies and High Commissions are located within the surrounding area, including the Embassy of Vietnam at 12 Victoria Road and diplomatic premises on Kensington Court and Kensington Palace Gardens.”

“/PP/26/03027:3 4.6There is no relevant planning history identified for the application site which materially affects the consideration of the current proposal. 4.7Officers visited the site on 16/09/2026 5.Main policies and strategies relevant to the decision The development plan 5.1The main planning considerations applying to the site and the associated policies are: Local Plan Land useTC9.”

“/PP/26/03027:5 directly linked to the specific diplomatic requirement and would not establish an unrestricted non-residential use of the property. 6.6Taking the policies together, officers consider that whilst the proposal would result in the temporary loss of a residential dwelling and therefore conflicts with the housing protection objectives of Policy HO1, this is outweighed by the specific policy support for diplomatic uses in this location under Policy TC9 and the…”

“/PP/26/03027:6 6.12The Council's Transport officers have considered the proposal and did not raise any objection subject to compliance with conditions. No cycle storage has been shown on the submitted plans which conflicts with Policy TR6 and the London Plan 2021. Condition 6 is recommended to secure details regarding the provision of cycle storage.”

“/PP/26/03027:7 requiring the property to revert to Class C3 residential use should the Embassy of Turkmenistan vacate the premises 2 Concerns raised regarding increased staff, visitors, deliveries and vehicle movements, additional pressure on limited on-street parking. Reference is also made to existing traffic pressures arising from the nearby School Street.”

“It would introduce visual clutter and set an undesirable precedent for further inappropriate additions within the Conservation Area. The flagpole is directly associated with the proposed diplomatic use, and diplomatic flags are an established feature of the surrounding area. Its scale and siting are not considered to result in harm to the character or appearance of the De Vere Conservation Area.”

“Details GRANTED, in accordance with the recommendation.”