Earls Court proposals unveiled
Tuesday March 8, 2011
Ideas for the future of Earls Court will be revealed on March 18 when architect Sir Terry Farrell unveils his proposed master plan for the area prepared for Capital and Counties, the owners of Earls Court.
For the first time residents will be able to see the emerging proposals being worked up for redeveloping Earls Court and West Kensington, that could include up to 7,500 new homes and create more than 10,000 permanent new jobs.
The exhibition comes after the council wrote to every tenant, leaseholder and freeholder in the neighbouring Gibbs Green and West Kensington Estates stating that if the estates were included they would be offered a new home in any development.
West Kensington Estate resident Maureen Way said: "If development does go ahead then our aim is to ensure that we get the best deal for all tenants, leaseholders and freeholders on the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates. We want to influence and share in the benefits that redevelopment could bring.”
The proposed master plan sets out the Earls Court owner’s vision for what the overall area could look like in the future, and gives all residents and groups an important opportunity to influence all aspects of the proposals months before any planning application is submitted.
Council Leader Stephen Greenhalgh said: "We have said all along that the Gibbs Green and West Kensington estates will only be included in any development if it is right for residents living there and right for people living in the wider area. This remains a firm commitment from the council. We have given residents on the estates detailed assurances that if their estates are included they will be offered a suitable new home in any development and that their friends and neighbours would be moved together. People can view these emerging proposals and make their own minds up safe in the knowledge that nobody would ever be forced out of the borough.”
The master plan proposes creating four urban villages that could help knit the new development together with existing neighbourhoods.
A new High Street that could host independent shops, cultural, leisure and community activities may link North End Road with Earls Court Tube station while the north and south could be linked by a road called The Broadway running through the site.
The master plan consultation comes shortly after Hammersmith & Fulham Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the Greater London Authority launched their own separate planning consultation on the future shape of Earls Court and West Kensington. The three authorities have been working together to draw up a planning framework that will set the parameters against which all future development proposals will be measured, including Capital and Counties' new master plan.
The first consultation draft of a ‘Supplementary Planning Document’ (SPD) produced jointly by the three authorities was published on March 4th and consultation on it is now getting underway. It will, when finalised later in the year following further consultation, provide planning guidance and describe how planning policies will be applied to any development proposals seeking planning permission. The planning applications anticipated from Capital and Counties will be expected to follow the guidance set out in the SPD.
To find out more about the master plan visit www.myearlscourt.com (opens new window) or visit the exhibition at The Museum Hall, Earls Court 1 Exhibition Centre, West Brompton Entrance on:
March 18 - 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
March 19 - 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
March 21 - 1pm to 4pm and 5pm to 8pm
March 22 - 1pm to 4pm and 5pm to 8pm
