Crossrail 2 will hit affordable housing in Chelsea, claim campaigners

A row has broken out between campaigners fighting to keep Crossrail 2 out of Chelsea and council bosses over plans for new homes.

The planned £1 billion Crossrail 2 station in King’s Road has faced opposition from residents and today campaigners said the number of affordable homes in the area would be hit.

The No Crossrail In Chelsea campaign claimed the 3,464 homes Kensington and Chelsea council wants to build over the next 40 years would be “luxury” properties, and that many could be built on existing social housing sites.

It claims a senior council figure put the potential value of the homes at £6 billion, which “implies either an average price for each new home of £1.7 million, or some lesser number of even more expensive homes”.

Chris Lenon, No Crossrail In Chelsea chairman, said: “Our council, ignoring the fact there is no real transport case for a new £1 billion station, wants to press ahead so it can make millions out of community levies linked to expensive, high-end property developments.”