One of London’s most famous wastelands is finally set for a comeback.

The Royal Borough’s Planning Committee gave the green light last night to the long-awaited rebirth of Earl’s Court* — a vast 40-acre site left eerily empty since the iconic Exhibition Centre was bulldozed a decade ago.

Members of the public packed the public gallery and heard that the site was once home to world-famous shows, pop concerts and motor expos, but closed in 2014 and was flattened in 2015, leaving a derelict wasteland and a giant hole.

Developers revealed that hole is about to be filled — and in spectacular fashion.

A masterplan from the Earl’s Court Development Company (ECDC) promises over 4,000 new homes, a giant park bigger than Trafalgar Square, and thousands of new jobs as the area is transformed from a dead zone into a buzzing new neighbourhood. Building works will take 15 YEARS to complete, with the deadline for delivery set at 2041.

The site — straddling Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham — has been described as central London’s most significant redevelopment opportunity. H&F Council granted planning permission two weeks ago.

ECDC rushed out a pre-prepared publicity statement following last night’s meeting that described the Earl’s Court development dreamily as “Discover Wonder”.

 

 

But not everyone agrees that the plans are wonderful. Before the committee voted, angry locals, residents’ associations, charities and even a sports club lined up to slam the controversial mega-development — branding it “too big, too dense, too tall.” Many residents also criticised the development team and council for failing to listen to their concerns during the lengthy consultation process.

“This development rides roughshod over local people,” one campaigner told The Chelsea Citizen. “It’s simply too much, in completely the wrong place.”

Another resident, who has lived in Earl’s Court for 24 years, added: “In the end, they just didn’t listen to the majority of local residents at all. They’ve pushed through buildings up to 27 storeys high, despite the local plan limit of 20. There is no strong evidence that the infrastructure – such as water, road, and Tube – can cope with a three fold increase in daily population. 

“The developers and the council have made zero changes despite all our concerns. There are over 1,000 residents whose properties will be blighted by lack of light because these towers will loom over their streets. None of these people were listened to at all. This development is a disaster waiting to happen on so many levels. I am very angry and worried about the future of Earl’s Court.”

Earl’s Court Councillor Linda Wade (Lib Dem) raised concerns about an massive increase in traffic and pressures on public transport especially, West Brompton station. 

Campaigners also warned the scheme would dump years of misery on the neighbourhood, with gridlocked roads, endless noise from construction lorries and mountains of waste generated by what they say is a crammed housing estate. Residents told planners they feared their streets would be turned into a permanent building site, ruining daily life for years.

One charity sounded the alarm over the impact on Brompton Road Cemetery, warning the towers would scar views and damage the historic setting of the much-loved burial ground.

In a speech to the committee, Earl’s Court ward councillor Hamish Adourian (Con) said: ‘Last November, I broadly welcomed the overall vision set out by this application, but set out a range of concerns around family housing, parking, architecture, density, affordability, vision drift, and several other areas.

‘All of those concerns are still valid today. However, I have had to ask myself whether these concerns, either individually or collectively, are so overwhelming as to compel me to argue for a pause or indeed to send this back to the drawing board.

‘There are times when it is right to say no, to hold out for something better. But it is also my responsibility to think of the risks – of leaving the site fallow for longer, of having the GLA impose amendments which we would find unfavourable, of leaving Earl’s Court without the inward investment it needs, and of sending a signal that we are not open for business. 

‘We must also consider the many benefits of the application – from the housing mix, the open spaces, the cultural venues, childcare facilities, and many other things that may well make it work.

‘A development of this scale and duration will be subject to many conditions and future planning applications and revisions. Today is not the end of a process, but merely the starting point. So, on balance, I ask the committee to approve this application and help get Earl’s Court moving.’

Only 40 per cent of the land – a quarter of a million square meters – will be built on, with the rest given over to landscaped piazzas, tree lined streets, public gardens, play spaces and a huge central green known as “The Table”, built on the footprint of the former exhibition halls. Developers boast the scheme will be “climate positive”, going beyond net zero and featuring the UK’s first large-scale zero-carbon energy-sharing network.

And it’s not just luxury flats. ECDC says 35 per cent of the homes will be affordable, with the project creating up to 15,000 jobs as Earl’s Court becomes a hub for green tech, research and innovation.

Four planning committee councillors voted in favour of the mega development: Cllr. James Husband (Con) Cllr. Will Lane (Con) Cllr. Sam Mackover (Con) and Cllr. Lloyd North (Con). Councillor Toby Benton (Ind) abstained.

Asked for his reaction to the Council’s approval of the colossal development, ECDC chief executive Rob Heasman declined to speak to The Chelsea Citizen saying he was “busy”. The PR company acting for ECDC released a statement later in which Mr Heasmen said:

“Our plans will restore Earls Court (sic. ECDC’s material does not use the apostrophe) as a global destination, a place for ingenuity, for the extraordinary, and for people to wonder. Projects of this scale require ambition, partnership and patience to bring forward, and our ambition has been shaped by four years of engagement, listening and working in collaboration with our community. 

“Our focus from now turn firmly to delivery, working collectively with the public sector to secure the range of homes, jobs and public benefits which this site can deliver for London and the UK. Earls (sic) Court will be the next chapter in London’s evolving story.”

The site was bought from previous owners CapCo in 2019, after years of false starts and furious local debate.

Behind the scenes is a heavyweight design line-up, including three Stirling Prize-winning practices. Hawkins\Brown and Studio Egret West are leading the masterplan, with SLA designing the public realm. 

Phase one architects include Sheppard Robson, Serie Architects and dRMM, while Haworth Tompkins and Maccreanor Lavington will deliver the first homes in Kensington and Chelsea alongside a major cultural centre.

So, after a decade as London’s biggest building site, Earl’s Court’s iconic Exhibition Centre is finally on track to rise again, although many in the Borough are not happy.

Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: “Earls Court is a welcoming, vibrant community with a rich cultural past. Once the home of the Brit Awards and events at London 2012 Olympics, we’re so excited about what the future now holds: not only a new cultural centre but crucially a major neighbourhood providing more than 1,400 homes which are so desperately needed in our borough and across London.”

The Citizen will be following this development closely as the project unfolds in the coming years. Stay in touch…

 * The Londonist states: