Search
Who we are

A campaign group of residents of Golborne working to plant an urban forest in North Kensington.

Our Vision

Preserve what we have
Restore what we’ve lost
​​​Increase canopy cover
​Involve the local community 

Kensal Gasworks/Canalside Development

CURRENT CAMPAIGN: A massive 3,500 units (15,000+ people) is being applied for on the site of an old gasworks where Sainsbury now stands. 10+ years of building, high towers, nowhere for people to go and toxic ground. This project will define North Kensington for generations. Read all about it and object on our sister-campaign (Keep Kensal Green) website.

Massive Telford Road Development Coming 

CURRENT CAMPAIGN: Manak Homes has submitted a planning applcation to create 27 flats (but no social housing) on 2–14 Telford Road and 246–248 Ladbroke Grove (the old school opposite the Eagle pub). It's massive even compared to the other tall buildings on Ladbroke Grove and shatters the image of the council being interested in social homes 😟​

Stop Peabody from Turning Public Space into Parking

Previous campaign: Peabody has removed over 60 private parking spaces and now wants to convert public streets into parking, taking away space meant for trees and community use. This hidden consultation must be challenged--send your objection now to protect our neighborhood!

​​Vote on Your Favorite Tree

Previous Campaign: The council has invited us to contribute ideas to what trees should be planted in the new Tree Pits around the Ward. These have now been chosen, with the majority of trees being the top ones selected by the community.

Object to Phase 3

Previous Campaign: Peabody has submitted their final Phase 3 Plans and while a number of things have improved (Portobello and Wornington no longer connect to Ladbroke Grove) and number of other things haven't. Unfortunately we lost this particular fight though we're reviewing our options for a judicial review

Success

This community is amazing. Together we've been able to:
  • Raise more than £3,500 from crowdfunding and raffle sales to hire planning consultants to help us fight for a greener, more livable neighbourhood. 
  • Ensured that there won’t be through roads from Portobello and Wornington to Ladbroke Grove.
  • Secured the promise of a Co-Design process for Athlone Gardens

We've engaged with councilors and planning officers, and hope to continue the conversations as we move towards the crux of the Phase 3 Planning process. 

Read more about our 2023 actions here.

Keep up the amazing work everybody!
​

​Update Aug 31, 2023: We're still fighting

There's been a bit of a pause due to general confusion about what happened to the Phase 3 Planning application. That's still alive and we are working on understanding why it wasn't decided, and to file relevant objections. 

Here's a list of our actions:
  • We're finalizing 1,000 signatures we got for a petition requesting sensible actions to be undertaking in the neighbourhood. Sign up here.
  • We're engaging a planning consultant to review what's going on at the planning stage and to help our objection with the aim of meeting the asks in the petition. Help finance this effort through our Crowdfunder.
  • We're organizing a raffle to help pay for the costs (not covered by the Crowdfunder). Buy Raffle Tickets Now.

As always, our aims are to:
  • Preserve what we have
  • Restore what we’ve lost
  • ​​​Increase canopy cover
  • ​Involve the local community 
​
​We welcome support from the neighbourhood! Please join us!! 
Update on 03/02/23 to Wornington Green redevelopment
Please lodge objections

The community are still waiting for the Council's planning meeting that will respond to the 100 objections raised against Catalyst Housing's Phase 3 planning application for Wornington Green Estate.
In the meantime, Catalyst Housing have lodged two applications for variations to their existing planning permission for Phase 2b, including Variation of Condition 8 (tree protection to retain two additional trees).
Phase 2B is currently underway in the middle of the estate with all the noise and dust from the piling work as foundations and underground spaces are being prepared for the new build.
Once again the planning and consultation process is a shambles. It's difficult to know exactly what is being revised in the application and how residents are informed about this and can meaningfully have a say. Read our detailed objections here. 

We urge local residents to object to these variations to Phase 2B and the Phase 3 planning process that will destroy most of the remaining 40 plus mature trees and create new through roads connecting both Portobello and Wornington Road to Ladbroke Grove. 

Objecting is anonymous and takes less than 5 minutes. Here are the links:

This planning application closes on 3rd Feb: 
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/planning/searches/details.aspx?address=&streetname=&postcode=&ward=&consarea=&caseyear=&casenumber=&proposal=&decisionyear=&decisionmonth=&appealref=&batch=20&id=CON/22/07715&type=application&tab=tabs-planning-1

And this one closes on 10th Feb:
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/planning/searches/details.aspx?address=&streetname=&postcode=&ward=&consarea=&caseyear=&casenumber=&proposal=&decisionyear=&decisionmonth=&appealref=&batch=20&id=PP/22/07718&type=application&tab=tabs-planning-1

Go to the section “Comment on this application” at the bottom of the page. 
Change “Reason for objecting” to “Objecting.”
Write a couple of sentences explaining why you object to the plans.
Include your contact details as requested.
​Please note that these details will be redacted when your objection is used, and you will remain anonymous.
Each person in a household can object but the wording needs to vary.  
  
November 2022 Phase 3 Planning Application ​Update​

As of Feb 2022, 110 objections are lodged against Catalyst Housing's Planning Application for Phase 3 regeneration of Wornington Green / Portobello Square.

The council will still accept objections until a date is confirmed for the Planning Committee Meeting that will decide on the application and this is expected to be at the end of June. 

Here is the link to a selection of residents objections.  
 
  

​
  • The Wornington Green Estate and surrounding area once had over 250 mature trees. 
  • Development on the Wornington Green Estate by Catalyst Housing has been ongoing for 11 years, with no end in sight.
  • 276 mature trees felled, 8 more condemned to death in Athlone Gardens. Others to follow in Phase 3. 
  • The capital asset value of trees felled so far exceeds £22 million. Only £13k planted in saplings. This is a loss to the whole community.
  • In December 2020, RBKCs Oversight and Scrutiny Committee recognised that Catalyst has failed to engage meaningfully with local residents and strongly recommended that they do so. They have not.
  • 4,000 residents signed two petitions to the council: one to halt felling, the other to plant more trees.
  • Wornington Trees has repeatedly requested meetings with and asked questions of Catalyst on behalf of local residents, such as to confirm how many trees have been felled. They have ignored all such requests.
  • The Golborne Forum issued a letter of support for the campaign by the Wornington Trees and the need to hold Catalyst Housing more accountable to the removal of trees throughout its rebuilding programme on Wornington Green and Portobello Square.
  • In December 2021, local residents protested in Athlone Gardens park, trying to stop the felling of at least two of these trees. Catalyst still refuse to talk. Tree protectors from Extinction Rebellion had taken up residence in the trees to support us. 
​