Skip to content

Two major London landmarks, Earls Court and Centre Point, to be re-developed

Firstly the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has approved plans for a major redevelopment on a 32 hectare site in Earls Court and West Kensington. And Camden council has approved a £350 million transformation of London’s famous Centre Point tower.

The plans for the Earls Court site include the development of more than 6,700 homes and a raft of infrastructure and public improvements over a 20 year construction period. It is expected that the scheme could generate 36,000 jobs in construction as well as a further 9,000 to 10,000 permanent jobs in the longer term.

The EC Properties project, designed by architects Terry Farrell and Partners, was passed to the Mayor for his consideration after being given the go ahead by both Kensington and Chelsea Council and Hammersmith and Fulham Council last year.

The scheme will see development for a wide range of residential, commercial and retail use, including new offices, hotels, a new school, health centre, sports and leisure facilities, a new park and public squares. It will also deliver a range of improvements to public transport links, including at Earls Court, West Kensington and West Brompton tube stations.

West Kensington and Gibbs Green housing estates, and Earls Court Exhibition Centre will be demolished as part of the plans. Developers will work with the boroughs to ensure that residents affected will be properly rehoused in new homes as part of a brand new development.

The developer has also already invested in and made improvements to nearby Olympia Exhibition Centre before Earls Court is demolished to ensure the continued vibrancy of the area's events and exhibitions offering.

‘I'm in no doubt that the development proposed for Earls Court and West Kensington will provide a massive boost not just to this part of the capital, but to London's wider economy as well. It is a landmark project that will deliver much needed jobs, new homes and improved infrastructure and will make this strategically important part of the capital an even better to place to live, work and visit,’ said Johnson.

‘I am acutely aware of the concerns that some residents affected by the project have but I'm reassured by the measures being taken by both councils and the developer to make sure the needs of local people are properly addressed. Having weighed up all of the considerations I'm of the firm view that this is a project that will deliver huge benefits to the area and beyond for years to come,’ he added.

There was a lot of local opposition to the Centre Point plans but Camden Council has granted the partnership between developers Almacantar and Frogmore permission for a major overhaul of the 1960’s complex under a scheme designed by Rick Mather Architects and Conran & Partners.

‘With Crossrail’s arrival, there is growing impetus behind the drive to revitalise this part of London and Centre Point has to be at the forefront of that. We intend to transform the way Londoners view and interact with Centre Point, while always staying true to its heritage. Our ambition is to ensure the scheme is re-established as a landmark destination that Londoners can be proud of,’ said Mike Hussey, chief executive of Almacantar.

Paul White, chief executive and chairman of Frogmore, said it was a much needed re-development. He pointed out that the area has been blighted for several years. However, architectural conservation group the 20th Century Society, St Giles Church, the Bloomsbury Conservation Area Advisory Committee and customers at an adjacent pub the Intrepid Fox which is famous among rock music fans which will be demolished to make way for social housing, opposed the development.

The plans include 82 residential apartments, ranging from one bed apartments to four bed duplexes, new shops and restaurants, a new building with 13 affordable housing units and new shop frontages.

Jonathan Hudson, managing director of Hudsons Property said that the development will boost the surrounding areas of Fitzrovia, Soho, Bloomsbury and Covent Garden.

‘Now I hope we will see this building and its great public spaces fully utilised. It's access will boost St Giles Circus even more after the arrival of Crossrail and the redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road station,’ he explained.

‘This is a very exciting development and it will provide some amazing high end apartments and some much needed social housing at the redeveloped Intrepid Fox public house site,’ he added.

Related