AMBITIOUS plans to turn White City and Shepherd's Bush into one of the most thriving communities in London have been unveiled.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL) have identified it as a designated Opportunity Area.

That means it will benefit from greater funding and infrastructure investment over the next 15 to 20 years.

The trio have drawn up a White City Opportunity Area Policy Framework (WCOAPF) that spells out their vision and guidelines that any major development must follow.

It includes creating a commerical hub of offices and retail businesses around a new White City Green, building 4,500 new homes and creating 10,000 new jobs.

The homes would be built east of Wood Lane while the BBC Television Centre, which will be vacated in 2015, would be rented out to 'media, leisure, or entertainment' industries to maintain the rich commercial tradition in the area.

Transport links would be improved and new schools and leisure facilities built, and paid for by any budding developer, to cope with a rise in population.

Wood Lane, White City and Batman Close Estates would also benefit from modernisation.

The framework has scope for a new ground for QPR FC but it would have to incorporate community sports facilities while they encourage a new campus for Imperial College to compliment the student accommodation they recently received planning permission for north of the A40.

H&F council leader Stephen Greenhalgh said: "We want this borough to provide our residents with a hand up to new job and housing opportunities.

“We want H&F to become a ‘borough of opportunity’ for our residents and the WCOAPF gives us a once-in-a-generation chance to turn aspiration into reality in White City.

“What shines through is the sheer potential to change the lives of thousands of people by providing these better housing and job opportunities.”

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "On a recent walk around White City I was struck by the huge potential of the area.

"Together with H&F Council and TFL, we have looked at where we can make changes for the better. And we have spoken to the major landowners and developers in the area to better understand their plans for the future.

"This framework builds on the area's rich heritage, which has influenced its character and proposes exciting new green spaces, bridges to surrounding communities, thousands of new homes, including much-needed affordable housing."

Drop in sessions outlining the proposals will begin on May 11 between 5pm and 8pm at Old Shepherd's Bush Library, in Uxbridge Road and May 14 between 10am and 2pm in the White City Community Centre, in Havelock Close.

The roadshow will roll into Wood Lane Community Centre, in White City Close, between 5pm and 8pm on May 18 and ends back at Old Shepherd's Bush Library between 10am and 2pm on May 21.

Alternatively, you can view the draft framework at www.lbhf.gov.uk/whitecityOAPF .

WhiteCityOAPFconsultation@lbhf.gov.uk or by writing to White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework Project Team, H&F Council Planning Division, Environmental Services Department, 5 th Floor Town Hall Extension, King Street, Hammersmith, W6 9JU.

The public consultation ends Friday June 10 by 5pm.

FUTURE OF WHITE CITY FACT BOXES

MAIN VISION

4,500 homes built and 10,000 jobs created.

Introduction of White City Green (same size at Brook Green).

'Commercial' hub based in and around BBC Television Centre.

New Imperial College campus.

Westfield extension.

Re-development of Shepherd's Bush Market and W12 Shopping Centre.

TRANSPORT

Extension of Mayor's Cycle Scheme to White City/Shepherd's Bush.

Road improvements to Old Oak Road/A40, Shepherd's Bush Gyratory, Holland Park Roundabout, Bloemfontein Road, Wood Lane.

Extended bus routes.

New step-free lift access to White City tube station and better access to Wood Lane underground station.

Introduction of Crossrail and HS2.

Reducing parking provisions to encourage more cyclists and pedestrians.

HOUSING

Must be phased building work over 20 years

White City Estate, Batman Close Estate and Wood Lane Estate would be regenerated.

Houses must be modern mansion blocks of six to nine storeys and terraces of four to six storeys.

Half of new homes must be affordable housing.

Must be environmentally-friendly with tree-lined routes and paths

COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS

Creative and commercial hub to the north and south of Hammersmith and City Line.

Business to focus on media, research, fashion, entertainment and arts.

New businesses must be car free if possible.

320,000 square metres of floorspace to be built (50,000 of which should be retail)

Sites for new business/retail: Ariel Way Industrial Estate; Shepherd's Bush Market; Threshold House; Former Odeon Cinema; Hotels and College of English; W12 Shopping Centre, Charecroft Estate; Richmond Way site.

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Nursery school in White City East

7,000 square metre two-form entry school and secondary school

Doctors surgery

Sports hall and gym

Public facility such as bowling alley, ice-skating or indoor tennis

Two new Safer Neighbourhood police teams

District heating network and recycling schemes