Plans have been revealed to increase the number of homes on the contentious Earls Court development by 2,500.
Developers, Capital & Counties Properties PLC (Capco), want to deliver a total of 10,000 homes and create more jobs in the 77-acre development, and has submitted representations to the Mayor’s London Plan consultation.
The publication of new ambitions for the Earls Court project comes as Capco announced the reaching of a significant set of milestones in the project, including:
- The demolition of the former exhibition centres to ground level is now complete , after nearly two years of intensive work on the site.
- Site preparation moves into a new phase with the arrival of the heavy lifting crane, the largest crane ever used in London, which will stand at 110m.
- The first residents move into their new homes with the completion of the first properties in Lillie Square, part of the Earls Court masterplan.
Capco had planned to build 7,500 homes as part of its already approved masterplan , but says the additional 2,500 homes will boost additional affordable housing levels and bring a greater diversity of housing types.
The crane, which will stand at twice the height of Nelson’s Column, is being built and, weather permitting, should be visible in February.
It will be used to remove 61 giant beams weighing between 80 and 1,500 tons which sit above District line tube tracks and were designed to carry the weight of the exhibition centre.
The first residents of the redeveloped Earls Court started moving into their new homes in Lillie Square at the end of last year.
The development of 808 homes – including 200 affordable homes that are under construction – has been designed around new garden squares designed by Andy Sturgeon, the winner of this year’s Chelsea Flower Show .
Speaking about the progress on the site, Gary Yardley, Capco chief investment officer, said: “Earls Court is the most important regeneration site in London and the last two years have seen significant investment and remarkable progress.
"The demolition of the exhibition centres is complete and our first residents of Lillie Square can now call Earl's Court home.
"We would like to thank local people for their ongoing support during the works as we bring forward our plans to deliver new homes, jobs and a thriving part of London.
"The progress and momentum continues and we look forward to working with our partners Transport for London and other stakeholders to discuss how the masterplan can grow and evolve in line with London’s needs.”
Residents from West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates, threatened by the Earls Court plan, speak
Earl’s Court councillor, Linda Wade, welcomed the extra homes, but feared they would not benefit her borough.
She said: “Any new housing must be welcomed, but they must be the right kind of homes, providing a range of housing options and ones that Londoners can afford.
"RBKC [Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea] desperately needs more affordable homes, both social and shared ownership, but without a review, the additional housing units might be delivered in LBHF [London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham] and not in Kensington and Chelsea, which will be a real lost opportunity given the housing pressures that the council faces daily."
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