Councillors in Kensington and Chelsea have approved plans to turn a family home in Kensington into the Turkmenistan Embassy.
The decision was made at a Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday October 20, allowing the embassy to move from its current location on Holland Park Avenue to a new site on Victoria Road.
Relocation details and nearby embassies
The former Holland Park site will become the embassy of Tajikistan. A flagpole and national emblem will also be erected at the new location on Victoria Road, which already hosts the Embassy of Vietnam. Several other embassies are within a short walk of the site.
Eight letters of objection were received, including concerns about the loss of a residential dwelling within the borough.
Planning conditions and objections
A report to the Planning Committee acknowledged the loss of residential accommodation but noted that the site is in an area identified as suitable for diplomatic and allied uses, with established diplomatic premises nearby.
A condition requiring the property to revert to residential use if the Turkmenistan embassy vacates was also included. The applicant stated that the relocation is being carried out in coordination with, and with the support of, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Expected visitors and operations
Between one and five people are expected to visit the embassy daily. It would be open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, with consular services running from 9.30am to 12pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
A council officer told the committee that transport officials were “confident that there’s enough space” at the boundary of the property to avoid queuing.
