Revised Old Oak Common redevelopment plan focuses on land around HS2 station

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) has submitted a revised plan for the area’s redevelopment.The OPDC has proposed using land around the new High Speed 2 (HS2) station at Old Oak Common to support the construction of more than 25,000 new homes after the Planning Inspectorate told the body to remove the privately-held Cargiant site from its proposals in September 2019.The Planning Inspectorate also concluded that Old Oak North had become commercially unviable for residential-led development at this time.According to the OPDC, the revised proposals will help to accelerate and consolidate the building of “a new urban district with affordable homes, jobs, public space and local facilities”, by moving the focus around the new Old Oak Common Station – much of which is owned by the public sector, mainly HS2 Ltd, Network Rail and the Department of Transport.With the potential to build a major new urban centre and a wide range of homes, work and amenities, the new proposals set the scene for massive new investment that will fully exploit the “unique connectivity” offered by the new major transport hub, where HS2, Crossrail’s Elizabeth Line and Great Western Rail services all meet.Alongside the revisions to its local plan, the OPDC will also submit a bid to government for infrastructure funding support to drive forward regeneration, helping to fund new access roads, bridges and utilities.The plan will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate and the local community in a detailed consultation process over the coming months. It is expected to be formally adopted by the end of 2021.London mayor Sadiq Khan described the news as “an important step forward” for the plan and emphasised that it “complements” his newly-published London Plan.OPDC chief executive David Lunts said the proposals “make for a better and more deliverable local plan”.