Public exhibitions to seek residents' views

For Immediate Release
Friday 23 September 2011

Imperial College London will be consulting residents in early October on its Masterplan proposals for the Imperial West site on Wood Lane which will provide a wide range of benefits for local residents, including new jobs, leisure facilities and the creation of a high quality knowledge-based ‘quarter’ on this currently derelict site.

Since the previous consultation in 2010, which preceded approval for development of postgraduate accommodation (see Notes to Editors - Phase 1 Update), Imperial has been refining its Masterplan proposals for the rest of the site and, prior to submitting a planning application, will be consulting the local community on its proposals to create a genuine mixed use development, to include:

• New world class facilities for a School of Public Health, which aims to address the major global health challenges of the 21st century. The facilities will bring together academics from across the College to provide a centre of excellence to attract and retain the very best scientists
• An environment for entrepreneurs during the critical stages of starting and growing a business, supporting Imperial’s strong technology transfer activities. As well as acting as a ‘launch pad’ for new businesses, it will create jobs, stimulate innovation and diversify the local economy
• New research and teaching space to expand and consolidate current activities, and complement those on the College’s existing west London campuses
• Public access to a new open green space at the heart of the development with extensive new landscaping, forming a new London square the size of Soho Square and opening up a site which has been closed off to the public for many decades
• Safe pedestrian and cycle routes through the site
• New local retail uses, such as a convenience store and pharmacy
• New local healthcare services and early years education nursery
• New homes, including affordable homes for Imperial key workers – trainee doctors, researchers and lecturers – to help attract and retain key staff at the start of their careers
• A four-star hotel to provide accommodation for Imperial’s conference visitors, together with new leisure facilities such as a health/fitness club, restaurants and coffee shops
• A link under the railway which would make it easier for residents to the east to access the Central Line station on Wood Lane and enable residents to the west to get to places like the Westway Sports Centre. The link would be designed and managed on a 24/7 basis to make it safe and secure
• A vibrant, safe environment with 24/7 site management and security
• 2,500 new jobs, during construction and operation

Imperial College London has arranged four Public Exhibitions on:

• Thursday 6^th October from 11.00am – 5.00pm at the Common Room, Women’s Pioneer Housing Association, Du Cane Road, W12 0EZ
• Friday 7^th October from 2.00pm – 8pm at the Common Room, Women’s Pioneer Housing Association, Du Cane Road, W12 0EZ
• Saturday 8^th October from1.00pm – 5.30pm at St Helen’s Church Hall, St Helen’s Gardens, W10
• Monday 10^th October from 12 noon – 8.00pm at The Harrow Club, 187 Freston Road, W10 6^TH.

Members of the Imperial College design team will be at the Public Exhibitions to explain the proposals and to answer residents’ questions.

There will be a presentation of the masterplan proposals by the design team at 3.00pm on Saturday 8^th October at the St Helen’s Church Hall exhibition.

John Anderson, Project Director for Imperial West, said;

“Imperial West will provide real and lasting benefits for local residents, including new jobs, new leisure facilities and the creation of a new high quality knowledge-based ‘quarter’ which will improve the environment and ‘feel’ of this currently derelict site.”

“Following consultation with residents, the Greater London Authority and both Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea local authorities, we have reduced the scale and massing of the proposed Phase 2 buildings since our consultation in May 2010. “

“We are keen to hear residents’ views and comments before we submit a planning application later this year.”

Notes for Editors

Phase 1 Update

The first phase of the development of the new Imperial West development, Wood Lane Studios, is well underway. It will provide accommodation for 606 postgraduate students, together with family accommodation for Imperial researchers, lecturers and trainee doctors along the south of Shinfield Street.  Also included in the first phase is a meeting room facility which will be available to people living and working in the area. Phase 1 will be completed by July 2012 so that the accommodation will be available to new postgraduate students joining the College for the academic year 2012-13.

The website for Wood Lane Studios www.woodlanestudios.co.uk provides details of the first phase currently under construction.

Local Community Benefits of the proposed Masterplan

Other local benefits include:

• An open development, giving public access to and from the site to the north, south, east and west,
• A new safe and secure open space accessible to the community
• New healthcare services and early years education nursery for use by local residents
• The Imperial College Schools Outreach programme, involving Imperial staff and students working closely with local schools
• Local facilities such as a cafe, restaurant, hotel, gym
• Key worker accommodation
• 2,500 jobs
• Reduced car movements
• A ‘shuttle bus’ to other Imperial campus locations, together with a ‘car club’ to reduce the need for individual car ownership and electric charging points to encourage ‘green’ transport
• A local community room (The Link) on Eynham Road
• 24/7 site management and security

About Imperial College London

Consistently rated amongst the world's 10 top universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

Since its foundation in 1907, Imperial's contributions to society have included the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of research for the benefit of all continues today, with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to improve global health, tackle climate change, develop sustainable sources of energy and address security challenges.

In 2007, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust formed the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre. This unique partnership aims to improv e the quality of life of patients and populations by taking new discoveries and translating them in to new therapies as quickly as possible.

Imperial has s even existing campuses in London, including its campus based on the Hammersmith Hospital site, which is 500 metres from the Imperial West site on Wood Lane, where a large community of Imperial postgraduate medical students and researchers is based.