Spotlight Area Focus Hammersmith

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area focus It’s happening in Hammersmith

White City was earmarked for regeneration several years ago. There’s a lot going on so it’s an attractive location

Hammersmith is a hive of activity. There are several developments underway in the area, schemes that are creating jobs and economic prosperity.

Notable developments include those in the White City Regeneration Area, which sits within Hammersmith and Fulham and covers 110 hectares, including Shepherds Bush Town Centre, the BBC and Queens Park Rangers Football Club.

It’s a major £8 billion regeneration programme, which was launched after the site was recognised as an Opportunity Area in the London Plan 2016. It covers three distinct sub-areas: White City East, Shepherd’s Bush Town Centre and the estates in White City (White City West).

In terms of new developments, Hammersmith & Fulham Council is focused on sites to the east of Wood Lane and north of the existing Westfield London shopping centre, including the BBC Television Centre. Regeneration of the historic Shepherd’s Bush Town Centre is also in the pipeline.

The impact will be huge. The entire £8 billion project is expected to create 10,000 jobs, deliver 6,000 new homes and further improve the local retail offering. It will also grow key sectors, such as bio-medical, technology and the creative industries. Imperial College’s new White City campus is already making a positive difference by bringing creative businesses and innovative biomedical research to the area.

Venture X, which provides highquality, flexible shared office space, is preparing to open up 20,000 sq ft of co-working space near the BBC studios at White City later this year. Andrew Ross, who is a master franchisor for Venture X, says: “White City is becoming a major retail destination for co-working space. Our co-working space is already more than 30% pre-let, which highlights the popularity of the shared office culture. We’re also opening a studio room at White City where you can do podcasts and videos. It’s just another string to our bow.

“White City was earmarked for regeneration several years ago. There’s a lot going on so it’s an attractive location for us. The developments will improve the quality of life for local residents, create jobs and bring more people into the area. There’ll be significant demand for flexible co-working space and we can provide this.”

Apart from White City, there are regeneration projects underway or planned in several other areas. These are:

• Hammersmith Town Centre – The Local Plan identifies

Hammersmith town centre as a regeneration area capable of delivering 2,800 new homes and 10,000 new jobs

• Earls Court and West

Kensington

• South Fulham Riverside

• Old Oak Common

New homes could also be built on Hythe Road and Wormwood Scrubs near the border with Kensington and Chelsea.