The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) has today submitted a revised draft Local Plan to support the construction of more than 25,000 new homes and bring tens of thousands of new jobs to the area with a focus on land around the HS2 station at Old Oak Common.
With the potential to build a major new urban centre and a wide range of homes, work and amenities, the new proposals set the scene for massive new investment that will fully exploit the unique connectivity offered by the new major transport hub, the only place where HS2, Elizabeth Line and Great Western Rail services meet.
Thousands of new homes are already being constructed, but the revised Plan will help to accelerate and consolidate the building of a new urban district with affordable homes, jobs, public space and local facilities, by moving the focus around the new Old Oak Common Station – much of which is owned by the public sector, mainly High Speed Two, Network Rail and the Department of Transport.
Existing businesses in Old Oak North will be protected by designating key sites for long term employment. It is expected to deliver a quarter of a million square metres of additional industrial space over the next twenty years, encouraging new businesses to the area and helping existing ones to grow.
OPDC has been working with local landowners to prepare these plans and will continue to work closely with its three London Boroughs (Ealing Hammersmith & Fulham and Brent), High Speed Two, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and the local community.
Alongside the revisions to its Local Plan, OPDC will shortly be submitting a bid to government for infrastructure funding support to drive forward regeneration, helping to fund new access roads, bridges and utilities.
The Plan will be considered by the Planning Inspector and the local community in a detailed consultation process over the coming months, and subject to the final views of the Inspector, is expected to be formally adopted by the end of 2021.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London said:
“I welcome this important step forward for OPDC’s Local Plan, which complements my newly published London Plan to deliver much-needed affordable homes and jobs for Londoners. I look forward to seeing this Plan adopted and a healthy and inclusive new district emerge in this important part of west London.”
David Lunts, Chief Executive of OPDC said:
“These new proposals make for a better and more deliverable Local Plan and with some 6,000 new homes already underway it builds on the momentum we have already established. By focussing on public sector-owned sites we can coordinate major regeneration at scale, fully exploiting the amazing potential created by the largest new rail station to be built in over a century here at Old Oak Common. Our aim though, is not just new homes and jobs; we are creating a desirable, exceptionally well connected and bustling series of districts for London where live, work, play is more than just a slogan.
“We will be consulting the community in the months ahead and, subject to the Planning Inspector’s approval, hope to see the Local Plan adopted before the year is out. In tandem, we aren’t wasting time, as we are working hard to prepare a bid for government infrastructure funding to push ahead quickly with the capital’s next big investment opportunity and start to see more of the affordable homes and new jobs so badly needed in this part of London.”
Liz Peace, Chair of OPDC said:
“The OPDC Board was pleased to approve these plans and see them resubmitted to the Planning Inspector for the final stage in the Local Plan process. Delivering major regeneration at this scale is both complex and challenging, but this revised approach offers the best possible route for creating a sustainable, liveable new district for London.”
