Berkley Homes' most recent plans reveal intent to redevelop White City station.
St James Property Developers, part of the Berkley Homes group recently submitted plans to redevelop the appropriately named 'Ugli' buildings, located on Wood Lane opposite the Television Centre. This 22 and 32 storey development will provide 527 new homes as well as office and leisure use. Read more here.
Within the 'Design and Access Statement' submitted in support of the application it is revealed that Pilbrow and Partners have carried out a study on behalf of St James to assess the viability of an "overstation development above White City Station which was presented to TfL".
This study was intended to demonstrate that the Centre House proposal would not detriment any future plans that TfL may have for the station.
The Design and Access Statement sets out: "Following extensive consultation with TfL we have designed Centre House in accordance with the provision for a future over station development to ensure that Centre House can facilitate east-west connectivity to and from the station."
A recent report by engineering service provider WSP estimated that upward of 250,000 new homes could be provided in the Capital by building over London's railway tracks.
Bill Price, WSP director, has previously said: “We have to be more creative in using existing space in what remains a relatively low-rise city.
“The air rights above rail tracks present an unrealised but significant opportunity to build more new homes on brownfield land.
Price continued: “We have been working on projects of this nature in New York for decades. Right now in London we are working on a variety of projects that rise above rail lines including a 50-storey residential tower, homes above a new Crossrail station and even a Premier League stadium.”
“By ‘decking’ over these lines, such as the proposed regeneration west of Earls Court underground station, we can join together sites to unlock an even higher number of new homes and create new vibrant communities.”
White City Station was opened in 1947 although initially planned to open in 1940 having been delayed by the Second World War. It replaced the now demolished Wood Lane Station which was built specifically to serve the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition (the white clad pavilions of which gave White City its name) and the 1908 Olympic Games.
The Station is not statutorily listed, but it is included within Hammersmith and Fulham's Local Register of Buildings of Merit (as at August 2015). The station is also located in the Wood Lane Conservation Area and Hammersmith and Fulham's relevant planning policy sets out: "Any development, or alterations to properties, affecting the setting of the conservation area should take full account of the character and appearance of the conservation area, and should preserve or enhance it, as described in the profile."
The character of the area is clearly changing significantly however despite Kit Malthouse - Housing Minister - recently encouraging "both councils and developers to conspire to build the conservation areas of the future."
With the station located within the White City Opportunity Area which, according to the GLA, has an indicative employment capacity of 10,000 jobs and the ability to provide a minimum 6,000 new homes it is becoming increasingly evident that meeting these targets takes precedence over heritage and traditional design considerations.
If this proposal does come forward it would follow from an extensive programme of regeneration in the area, including: a £2bn investment by Imperial College London in their new campus; a £1bn retail and residential expansion of Westfield; Stanhope's redevelopment of the Television Centre; and St James' White City Living development.
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| Plans submitted with the Centre House application show indicative plans for 'decking over' the Central Line |
St James Property Developers, part of the Berkley Homes group recently submitted plans to redevelop the appropriately named 'Ugli' buildings, located on Wood Lane opposite the Television Centre. This 22 and 32 storey development will provide 527 new homes as well as office and leisure use. Read more here.
Within the 'Design and Access Statement' submitted in support of the application it is revealed that Pilbrow and Partners have carried out a study on behalf of St James to assess the viability of an "overstation development above White City Station which was presented to TfL".
This study was intended to demonstrate that the Centre House proposal would not detriment any future plans that TfL may have for the station.
The Design and Access Statement sets out: "Following extensive consultation with TfL we have designed Centre House in accordance with the provision for a future over station development to ensure that Centre House can facilitate east-west connectivity to and from the station."
A recent report by engineering service provider WSP estimated that upward of 250,000 new homes could be provided in the Capital by building over London's railway tracks.
Bill Price, WSP director, has previously said: “We have to be more creative in using existing space in what remains a relatively low-rise city.
“The air rights above rail tracks present an unrealised but significant opportunity to build more new homes on brownfield land.
Price continued: “We have been working on projects of this nature in New York for decades. Right now in London we are working on a variety of projects that rise above rail lines including a 50-storey residential tower, homes above a new Crossrail station and even a Premier League stadium.”
“By ‘decking’ over these lines, such as the proposed regeneration west of Earls Court underground station, we can join together sites to unlock an even higher number of new homes and create new vibrant communities.”
White City Station was opened in 1947 although initially planned to open in 1940 having been delayed by the Second World War. It replaced the now demolished Wood Lane Station which was built specifically to serve the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition (the white clad pavilions of which gave White City its name) and the 1908 Olympic Games.
The Station is not statutorily listed, but it is included within Hammersmith and Fulham's Local Register of Buildings of Merit (as at August 2015). The station is also located in the Wood Lane Conservation Area and Hammersmith and Fulham's relevant planning policy sets out: "Any development, or alterations to properties, affecting the setting of the conservation area should take full account of the character and appearance of the conservation area, and should preserve or enhance it, as described in the profile."
The character of the area is clearly changing significantly however despite Kit Malthouse - Housing Minister - recently encouraging "both councils and developers to conspire to build the conservation areas of the future."
With the station located within the White City Opportunity Area which, according to the GLA, has an indicative employment capacity of 10,000 jobs and the ability to provide a minimum 6,000 new homes it is becoming increasingly evident that meeting these targets takes precedence over heritage and traditional design considerations.
If this proposal does come forward it would follow from an extensive programme of regeneration in the area, including: a £2bn investment by Imperial College London in their new campus; a £1bn retail and residential expansion of Westfield; Stanhope's redevelopment of the Television Centre; and St James' White City Living development.
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