Kensington’s stucco-fronted terraces and mansion blocks share many of the same conservation constraints as neighbouring Chelsea, since much of the borough falls within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s conservation area network. Listed building consent is sometimes required in addition to standard planning checks, particularly on grade II listed terraces around Kensington Square and the Boltons.
One detail specific to this area: many original Kensington townhouses have ceiling heights well above the modern standard of 2.4 metres, sometimes reaching 3.5 metres on ground and first floors. That extra volume of air means a room that looks modest on a floor plan can need meaningfully more cooling capacity than the same footprint in a newer property — something worth flagging to installers at the quote stage.
Mansion block flats bring a different set of considerations: shared freeholds mean any external unit typically needs management company sign-off, and pipe runs often have to travel further to reach a permitted external location, such as a rear light well rather than a balcony.
Ducted systems concealed within loft voids or false ceilings are a popular choice here specifically because they avoid visible wall units altogether, which matters both for period character and for buildings where any external alteration needs formal approval.