Imperial Vice Provost to advise on west London regeneration

The Grand Union Canal: part of the Old Oak Common and Park Royal Opportunity Area (photo: David Hawgood).

The Mayor of London has invited Professor Debra Humphris to join the newly launched Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC).

The Corporation will lead the regeneration of Old Oak Common in West London and will seek to deliver up to 24,000 homes and more than 55,000 jobs.

Professor Humphris, Imperial’s Vice Provost (Education), will inform and advise OPDC on education. 

Professor Debra Humphris

Old Oak Common is adjacent to Imperial’s flagship new student accommodation, Woodward Hall in W3, which will open its doors to 600 students this October. 

The area also neighbours the College’s new 25 acre research and innovation district, Imperial West.

Professor Humphris joined the OPDC for its first board meeting at City Hall today. It was chaired by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, with Deputy Mayor for Planning Sir Edward Lister serving as vice chair. 

Profound and lasting impact

Professor Debra Humphris, Vice Provost (Education) at Imperial College London, said:“This is a significant and exciting development for London’s evolution as a global city. 

“The OPDC has the chance to make a profound and lasting impact on west London. I look forward to helping OPDC realise the area’s great potential for educational opportunities. 

“Complementing the OPDC’s initiatives, Imperial will work to strengthen its ties to the area over the coming years, and grow our contributions to the local community and economy.” 

The OPDC covers the area encompassing the Park Royal Industrial Estate, Stonebridge Park, Park Royal Cemetery (Acton Cemetery), the core development site at Old Oak, North Acton Underground Station, Willesden Junction underground and overground stations and Wormwood Scrubs Common.

A High Speed 2 (HS2) and Crossrail Station is due to be constructed at Old Oak Common by 2026. The new station will be the size of Waterloo, handling 250,000 passengers a day and acting as a super hub between London and the rest of the UK, Europe and the world.

The OPDC will work to maximise the regeneration potential of the new stations. The Corporation has the support of Government and full planning powers across the entire site straddling the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent and Ealing.