The Kelso Cochrane House development has won the ‘Best Affordable Development – less than £20m’ at the awards ceremony held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
Kelso Cochrane House Wins Award
Kelso Cochrane House is a part 7 and part 5 storey residential development in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
The project comprises of demolition of the existing community centre and youth facility and then erection of the new part 7 storey, part 5 storey residential building with provision for 37 units.
The site also includes a new 488sqm community space as well as 345sqm or retail at ground floor street level.
Cllr Sof McVeigh, lead member for housing management, housing safety and building new homes said:
“It’s an honour to receive an award for one of our first new homes schemes. Our ambition is to create high quality, greener, safer homes in the borough and Kelso Cochrane House is a great example.
“It won’t be long before residents can move in and enjoy 38 new, award-winning homes. With insulation, thermally efficient windows and green heating systems the building is energy efficient and these measures should help keep bills lower for residents too.”
The Kensal Road development is named after Kelso Cochrane who was murdered in Notting Hill 64 years ago. Kelso’s life was tragically cut short when attacked and murdered by a gang of white youths in Notting Hill while on his way home on 17 May 1959. No-one was ever convicted of his murder and those responsible are still free.
Kelso Cochrane’s Family welcomed the award and said:
“We would like to thank Inside Housing for awarding the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea the award for Best affordable housing development – less than £20m for Kelso Cochrane House. This delivery of affordable homes and community facilities and sustainability is very appropriate for this scheme. Kelso’s family is extremely grateful that the block was named after him in his memory. It really means a lot to us and is very much appreciated.
Kelso Cochrane was the victim of a racist murder in Notting Hill in 1959 which has never been solved. Our family’s fight for justice goes on. He was studying to become a lawyer, and coming from a poor working-class background in the West Indies we know he would have been a champion of the working class and those less fortunate in the community.
He would have been proud to be associated with this community development. Therefore, we take the view that he would have been pleased to be associated with such a worthy cause.
On his behalf we thank you and appreciate your kindness.”
Congratulations to the entire design team on this award. It’s an important milestone for this great project and we look forward to bringing you some photos of the completed development in due course.
