From a 'Bermuda Triangle of inactivity to a thriving new city'

Computer generated graphics showing how Park Royal could be transformed by the nation’s first high-speed rail super hub (HS@) were released by Hammersmith and Fulham Council today.

To the sound track of ‘We Built This City’ by Starship, the upbeat YouTube clip shows how the derelict or underused industrial land – around Old Oak Common in NW10 – could be transformed into London’s newest city.

The regeneration vision, which has been dubbed Park Royal City, shows 12,000 new homes and businesses and 115,000 extra jobs (40,000 in H&F) created around a convergence of transport routes in north-west London.

The four minute video, was put together by Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council and architects Farrells.

Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, H&F Council Leader, says: “HS2 is the fastest way to deliver much need new homes, jobs and opportunities in one of London's poorest areas and the case for an interchange station at Old Oak is overwhelming.”

“The Old Oak super hub is vital to making the overall HS2 plans work properly as it will relieve pressure on central London terminals, like Euston, that will not be able to cope with the huge number of additional passengers on their own. The YouTube clip clearly shows how HS2 could be the catalyst to create Park Royal City. This is a once in lifetime opportunity to transform a sometimes forgotten part of London from a Bermuda Triangle of inactivity into a thriving new city.”

Brian Hinchley, Acting Chief Executive of Park Royal Partnership, said: “We look forward to working with the councils, the rail industry, and developers, to make sure that this once in a lifetime opportunity brings benefits of major inward investment, regeneration and employment to this part of West London.”

Around half of working age adults within 1.2miles of the new city, including residents in the neighbouring boroughs of Brent, Ealing and K&C, are unemployed and some parts of Old Oak are in the bottom 1% of most deprived areas nationally.

The Department for Transport (DfT) will make a decision on the proposed stations for the high speed rail line (HS2) from Birmingham to London in December this year.

4th October 2011