Westfield London - a catalyst to regenerate W12
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
08/10/2008
Britain’s newest shopping centre will open this week - from October 30 – and is set to change the face of W12 and shopping in the capital forever.
Beneath its undulating glass roof, Westfield London, in Shepherds Bush, will be home to some of the world’s best loved shops.
It truly is a shopper’s paradise housing more than 265 stores, over 40 places to eat, a state-of-the-art 14-screen cinema and an exclusive health and beauty retreat. With the complex now 98 per cent let, the centre has defied the economic downturn to sign up Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Next as anchor tenants among their impressive roster of retailers.
And it is not just shoppers who are benefiting from Britain’s third biggest shopping centre. Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council has negotiated a series of major community benefits out of Westfield, including:
- A £200 million boost to public transport in the area
- £4 million for Britain’s first 24/7 beat policing squads
- A £3 million re-vamp for Shepherds Bush Green
- A brand new 21st Century Shepherds Bush Library
- 78 new affordable homes
Already thousands of construction jobs have been created by the complex. Now another 7,000 jobs – with 1,000 for local residents – will prove very popular during the credit crunch induced recession. W12 is one of the most deprived parts of London and the council believes that Westfield can act as a catalyst to regenerate the wider area.
Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, H&F Council Leader, said: “Regenerating our most deprived areas is part of the vision to make H&F the Borough of Opportunity. The estates around White City contain some of the biggest pockets of deprivation in London with twice the average levels of unemployment and a third of households earning less than £20,000. The council wants to use major development opportunities to improve the lives of local people.”
Despite the significant improvements already achieved the council wants more and is lobbying Transport for London (TfL) to ease traffic congestion in the area. As a start, TfL have informed the council that improvements with be made to the junction of Fulham Palace Road and Hammersmith Broadway – one of the most congestion north/south routes in the borough.
Cllr Greenhalgh continues: “It is true that you cannot build something this big – with all of these improvements – without causing some disruption. The council has done all it can to limit the noise and disruption caused by Westfield’s builders. We have also worked hard to ease congestion in the area and now need TfL to do their bit by freeing up north/south routes and improving traffic light phasing.”
The council has also vowed to protect parking bays on residential streets for residents and their visitors, not Westfield shoppers or staff.
Cllr Greenhalgh added: “We will closely monitor the controlled parking zones in Shepherd's Bush following the opening of the shopping centre. Once the impact has been assessed a consultation will take place with all local residents and changes to the parking restrictions will be made as required.”
