Our History

SSDRA was formed in 1959 by residents to fight plans to demolish 77 houses in our area. The entire west side of Sydney Street, from Fulham Road to Cale Street, was under threat as was all of Stewart’s Grove and Guthrie Street. The then London County Council wanted the land to be used to enlarge the London Oratory secondary school (then located off Stewart’s Grove, behind the Marsden Hospital). Fortunately the fight was won, we were founded to protect the interests of residents and the London Oratory secondary school found suitable grounds in Fulham.

The full story can be read in an article by our first chairman, James Kinross, published in the 1959 Annual Report of The Chelsea Society and kept in the reference section of the Kensington Library.

Our Association has been awarded the Council’s Gold Standard for excellence in representing residents. We were given £500 in recognition and contributed it to the improvement of our neighbourhood and to mark our 50th anniversary with the installation of a drinking fountain in St Luke’s Gardens.

Our Members

SSDRA is composed of residents who have an interest in protecting and enhancing the amenities of our area.  Membership is open to anyone living in Sydney Street, Guthrie Street, Stewart’s Grove, Bury Walk, Pond Place and 161 Fulham Road.

More About the SSDRA

Please contact us to ask questions, seek additional information or give us your comments on specific planning or other developments – we welcome your views, so that we can incorporate them into our responses to applications and consultations.

We can assist you in responding to issues which affect the amenity of the area in which you live. In general, we find that it is most effective for a number of members, plus the SSDRA to respond on specific issues, planning applications or other interactions with the Council and other bodies, such as TfL.

Please note that we are unable to intervene in planning or other issues between neighbours or to help you with your own planning matters.

Contact Us

Volunteer to Join Us

Given the volume of work involved in monitoring planning applications and participating in consultations, we are always open to offers of help from members. Just one of the Royal Brompton Hospital’s three 2016 applications ran to over 115 documents, so any assistance you are able to give would be most welcome.

Whether you have experience of planning applications or are able to help with our other community activities, please contact us at info@SSDRA.org.uk.