Delancey and TFL acquire final site for 40-acre Earls Court regeneration project

Earls Court Partnership (ECP) has bought a train maintenance depot site, completing the land assembly for a major redevelopment project expected to deliver 4,500 homes.The joint venture, between consultancy Delancey and Transport for London, has now assembed 40-acres for the regeneration scheme overall, following the purchase of the 15-acre Lillie Bridge Depot site and associated land.It is expecting to release a masterplan for the redevelopment of the former exhibition centre site in west London this winter.A consultation document in the summer suggested 4,500 homes could be provided in the scheme overall.Former owner of the site CapCo had planned 7,500 homes for the Earls Court redevelopment, but it sold the plot in 2019 for £425m after it faced enormous opposition to its redevelopment plans. This included regenerating two existing social housing estates.Earls Court Development Company (ECDC), owned by ECP, is believed to be drawing up a smaller scheme and in May last year Kensington & Chelsea council approved plans for the scheme’s first 51 new homes for rent. Twenty-three of those homes will be affordable.The joint venture said the Lille Bridge Depot plot will be used to “support local housing needs” as well as “create a new London destination for food and maker spaces on the site”.The development company will lease back the Lillie Bridge Depot to TfL at a peppercorn rent and it will remain an operational site supporting the London Underground network.Rob Heasman, chief executive of the joint vehicle, said: “The acquisition of Lillie Bridge Depot is a very important step forward for Earls Court. Unlocking this final piece of land will enable comprehensive development of the site.He added: “We look forward to sharing our draft masterplan and the next phase of consultation this winter.”ECDC started consultation for the redevelopment last year and ahead of the master plan launch it has re-opened its dedicated consultation space, Conversation Corner.