The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is poised for a landmark year of construction in 2026, with several colossal housing and regeneration schemes set to move from the planning stage to reality. Following a series of crucial council approvals in 2025, the coming year will see work begin on thousands of new homes, alongside the sensitive deconstruction of Grenfell Tower and progress on a permanent memorial.
Major Developments Set to Reshape the Borough
The most significant project is the vast Earl's Court redevelopment, a £10 billion scheme that will deliver around 4,000 new homes across the borough boundary with Hammersmith and Fulham. The 40-acre site, vacant since the exhibition centres were demolished, is set to be transformed. Kensington and Chelsea's portion will see roughly 1,400 homes, with plans also including a cinema, community centre, shops, and restaurants. The application, filed by the Earl's Court Development Company, now awaits final sign-off from the Mayor of London, with preliminary construction work hoped to start in 2026.
Another giant project set to advance is the transformation of the former Kensal Canalside gasworks. Approved in November 2025, the proposal from Ballymore and Sainsbury's aims to build 2,519 homes, with towers reaching up to 29 storeys. Of these, 500 are designated as affordable, split between social rent and intermediate rates. The hybrid scheme also promises office space, a healthcare facility, a leisure centre, and a public park. The application is currently undergoing Section 106 agreement negotiations before being referred to City Hall for the Mayor's approval due to its size, a process expected in 2026.
Local Schemes and Lasting Tributes
On a slightly smaller but still substantial scale, the Lots Road South scheme by Chelsea Creek received the green light from Kensington and Chelsea Council in December 2025. This development, a partnership between Mount Anvil and the council, will provide 274 new homes, with 118 classified as affordable. The plans include a new community centre, café, and significant public realm improvements with nearly 50 new trees. As the site straddles two boroughs, it also requires approval from Hammersmith and Fulham Council and the Mayor of London, with decisions anticipated in 2026.
Alongside this wave of new building, 2026 will see the continued, careful deconstruction of Grenfell Tower, a process begun in the summer of 2025 and expected to take two years. The tower is illuminated nightly as a visible reminder, with 72 green beams of light projected on significant anniversaries. In a parallel move towards healing, the design team for a permanent memorial to the 72 victims was chosen in November. London and Oxfordshire-based practice Freehaus will work with bereaved families, survivors, and the community, with a final design expected to be announced in mid-2027.
A Year of Transformative Change
The collective impact of these projects signals a period of intense physical and social change for Kensington and Chelsea. The borough, often associated with high-value property, is addressing housing delivery at scale, with a notable emphasis on affordable and social rent homes within these major schemes. The progression of these developments in 2026 will be closely watched, not only for their capacity to alter London's skyline and housing stock but also for their role in the community's ongoing recovery and future shape.
