KNIGHTSBRIDGE & BELGRAVIA WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – January 2026
News from your Knightsbridge & Belgravia Labour Action Team
Dear Resident,
Happy New Year!
We hope you find our latest Action Report of interest and help.
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
Please let us know how we are doing by completing our residents’ survey https://bit.ly/Residents-survey-25-2
NEWS AND ACTION
Ebury Bridge regeneration
Enabling works for Phase Two of the Ebury Bridge redevelopment are expected to begin in early 2026. The Ebury Bridge development will see the biggest delivery of new council homes for social rent in Westminster in over 60 years, delivering 779 homes, 373 for social rent, across three phases.
Phase one of the scheme completed in December 2024, with 226 homes delivered, 100 of which were for social rent. Phase two will be delivering an additional 334 homes, 228 of which are for social rent.
Through the council’s Truly Affordable Housing Strategy, in addition to the 198 social rent reprovisions on this scheme, we increased the number of new council homes for social rent from 41 to 175. This improved proposal secured overwhelming resident support, with 91% backing the scheme in the confirmatory ballot, and unlocked over £40m in GLA funding.
For more details see https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/construction-partner-approved-ps229m-ebury-bridge-phase-two-regeneration-scheme
Safer Streets
The Council’s enforcement action is helping create safer streets. The new CCTV network has captured 800 incidents and secured 80 arrests. More than 2,100 fines have been issued for illegally dumped waste since April. 600 fines were issued for dumped dockless bikes and 196 fines handed out to rogue pedicab drivers since December. See more at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/councils-enforcement-action-helping-create-safer-streets-and-numbers-back-it
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”
Tackling poverty
Westminster City Council has set out plans to tackle poverty and food insecurity across the city. Many Westminster residents still face rising living costs, insecure incomes, and difficult choices between essentials such as heating and eating. The plan sets out immediate, practical steps the council can take. For details see https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/westminster-city-council-sets-out-bold-plans-tackle-poverty-and-food-insecurity
New affordable homes
70% of new affordable homes built in Westminster will now be expected to be social housing, an increase of 30%, as part of the City Plan Partial Review. The Council has also announced a new ‘Retrofit First’ policy which requires developers to explore all options for retrofitting existing buildings before seeking permission for demolition. The Council has also identified four site allocations that will be transformed for residential and commercial use. Read more at https://bit.ly/4bilLGA
‘Fairer Westminster Suite’
You can hear the ‘Fairer Westminster Suite’, commissioned by Lord Mayor Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, by visiting https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/royal-academy-music-composer-premieres-new-suite-lord-mayor
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/