KNIGHTSBRIDGE & BELGRAVIA WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – April 2026
News from Jo Broadey, Max Murashov and Matt Noble
Your Knightsbridge & Belgravia Labour Candidates
Dear Resident,
The Council elections are on 7th May and all the predictions are that it will be a close battle between Labour and the Conservatives.
Every week we go door-knocking to ask residents if there are any local issues on which we can help. Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance at labour4knights.belgr@gmail.com
NEWS AND ACTION
Exhibition Road ‘car meets’
Westminster City Council has officially applied for a borough-wide injunction to crack down on illegal car meets and dangerous driving stunts. Car meets, at which large groups of people gather to watch stunts performed, have long blighted parts of Knightsbridge & Belgravia. We are using every power available to crack down on dangerous car meets on Exhibition Road, including our extended Nuisance Vehicle PSPO. https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/menace-car-meets-blighting-westminster-33698961
Chelsea Barracks new homes
Chelsea Barracks will now deliver up to 515 homes instead of 448 that were originally given planning consent. The changes will see 87 apartments built across three blocks as part of Phase Five of the development, instead of 20 townhouses developer Qatari Diar has permission for. The scheme’s final phase will include 126 affordable homes, as well as 119 market sale homes, a sports centre and medical facilities.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm25vdzvrmgo?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Illegal Short-Term Lets
A total of 2,712 properties are currently being investigated by Westminster City Council for unlawful short-term letting as of 30th March 2026. It comes ahead of the launch of a new registration scheme for short-term lets, intended to help better police the sector. Last year, Westminster City Council doubled the size of the Short-Term Lettings Team and opened 499 short-term letting investigations for suspected breach of the 90-night rule, under which landlords and property owners in London can legally rent their property as a short-term let for a maximum of 90 nights within a calendar year. Beyond this, they need to request planning approval from the council. https://www.propertyinvestortoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2026/04/more-than-25000-westminster-properties-investigated-for-unlawful-short-term-letting/
Clean Streets
Read the 10 reasons why Westminster has the cleanest streets in London https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/2026/04/22/10-reasons-why-labour-westminster-has-the-cleanest-streets-in-london/
Enforcement action update
The latest statistics demonstrate the effectiveness of your Labour Council’s enforcement action
Public toilets
Thanks to Labour, Westminster has the best public toilets in the country.
Cultural Strategy
The Council has unveiled its new Cultural Strategy 2026–31, outlining a five‑year plan to ensure everyone who lives in, works in or visits the city can benefit from its rich cultural life. The strategy places culture at the heart of community wellbeing, economic growth and the creation of distinctive, vibrant neighbourhoods.
Double-glazing made easier
We want to make it easier for residents to upgrade their homes while protecting the character of our historic city. Double-glazed homes are quieter, warmer and cheaper to heat. If we are re-elected in May, we will allow residents to replace old single-glazed windows with modern double-glazed ones without needing to apply for planning permission, provided the replacements are very similar to the originals.
Car Hire
On-street car and van hire is set to return to Westminster by August 2026, following Zipcar’s sudden withdrawal from the market. Labour has acted quickly and been working with potential providers, including Enterprise, HiyaCar, and Co-Wheels, to secure a sustainable future for the service. https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/uncategorised/2026/04/16/car-sharing-set-to-return-westminster-this-summer/
New ‘Report It’ tool
The Council has launched a new ‘Report It’ tool which makes it faster and easier for residents, businesses and visitors to report street-based issues to the council. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it. Read more here https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/crime-and-public-protection/2026/03/30/report-it/
Council to Freeze the main Westminster element of Council Tax for 2026/27
Westminster City Council is to Freeze the main Westminster element of Council Tax for 2026/27 to help residents deal with cost-of-living pressures. The adult social care precept that funds care for the elderly and disabled will see a below-inflation rise of just two percent, meaning the Westminster share of the bill that Band D payers receive will increase by just 20p a week and maintain the second lowest Council Tax in the country. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/keeping-council-tax-low-while-investing-our-communities
Improved Playgrounds
The Council has launched Westminster’s first playground action plan to set out how playgrounds across the city will be developed over the coming years, with a key focus on improving inclusion. https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/community/2026/03/30/labour-westminster-launches-new-plan-for-local-playgrounds/
Labour Manifesto for the City Council Elections
You can read the Labour Manifesto here https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/manifesto/
Free cultural events for Westminster residents aged 65+.
‘Out and About’ offers free tickets to attend cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions, film and theatre shows, coordinated by Westminster City Council.
The Council says, “You can book these free events by becoming a member of the ‘Out and About’ scheme by emailing outandabout@westminster.gov.uk with your name, age, postal address, telephone number and email address. We will then email you the programme, which is released monthly. For more information please visit Cultural events for older people | Westminster City Council”
New Community Planning Service
Westminster City Council has launched a new pilot Community Planning Advice Service. The service is available to all residents, community groups and others and provides free planning guidance on how to respond to large scale planning applications. https://westminstercpas.commonplace.is/
Free Cycling Lessons
Free cycle training is open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Westminster. Over 4,000 people have benefitted from this over the past few years.
https://www.cycleconfident.com/sponsors/city-of-westminster
Regards
Jo Broadey, Max Murashov and Matt Noble
Your Knightsbridge & Belgravia Labour Candidates
Here to Help, All Year Round – We Get Things Done!
Contact us at labour4knights.belgr@gmail.com
Read our latest news on https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk
Promoted by Jonathan Charles on behalf of all Labour candidates, all at 4g Shirland Mews, W9 3DY