West London family home to become Turkmenistan embassy

A family home in Kensington is going to become the Turkmenistan Embassy.

Kensington and Chelsea councillors voted to approve the application at a Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday October 20.

The embassy will move from its current location on Holland Park Avenue, to the new location on Victoria Road, while the former Holland Park site will become the embassy of Tajikistan. A flagpole and national emblem will also be erected at the new location.

Victoria Road is already home to the Embassy of Vietnam, while several other embassies are a short walk away.

Eight letters of objection were received, including concern over the loss of a residential dwelling within the borough.

“The loss of residential accommodation is acknowledged; however, the site is located within an area identified as suitable for diplomatic and allied uses, with a number of established diplomatic premises nearby,” said a report to the Planning Committee.

A condition requiring the property to return to residential use should the Turkmenistan embassy vacate was also put in place.

The applicant also said that the relocation is being undertaken in coordination with and with the support of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, according to the report.

Between one and five people are anticipated to visit the embassy per day, which would be open between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Consular services would run from 9.30am until 12pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

A council officer told the committee that transport officials had said they were “confident that there’s enough space” at the boundary of the property to avoid queuing.