A £20 million refurbishment has been proposed for the World's End estate in Chelsea, one of London's most famous social housing complexes. The estate, situated at the end of King's Road nearest to the Thames, is frequently described as the biggest council estate in Chelsea and contains around 750 homes within its seven high-rise tower blocks.
Planned Works and Timeline
Under the new plans, homes on the estate may undergo renovations including new kitchens and bathrooms, roof renewals, and redecoration of communal areas. The total scale of the works could cost Kensington and Chelsea Council £20m. The first phase would start in March 2028 and be completed in around 12 months.
A second phase would comprise a £3.8 million lift upgrade programme estimated to start in February 2028. More than £500,000 has also been earmarked for proposed electrical and fire safety improvements.
Resident Support and Leaseholder Contributions
Tailored support will be offered to residents most affected by the works, including respite and decant options. Leaseholders would also be required to contribute towards the repairs, although the amount has not yet been confirmed.
A report to the council's Housing and Communities Select Committee said: "The World's End Estate programme represents a major long-term investment in the estate's fabric, safety and infrastructure."
Heating System Upgrades
Central heating on the estate will also be upgraded to ensure it is compliant with new regulations set out by the watchdog Ofgem. These require everyone on a heat network to be billed individually for the energy they use.
The report to the housing committee said that, although there is building metering across World's End, "the age and condition of the existing system" means that it cannot currently support individual heat billing. "It will not be easy to upgrade the system at Worlds End, and is estimated to require significant investment," adds the report. "This is an area of concern for many leaseholders, as the work needed would generate significant leaseholder recharges."
