Imperial News

Consultation launched on proposals for the southern part of White City Campus

by John-Paul Jones

Draft proposals for the next phase of Imperial's White City Campus will go on display at a series of consultation events this month.

Imperial is hosting public exhibitions in the local area in White City, as well as at its South Kensington Campus and its Hammersmith Hospital site for staff and students based there. 

The exhibitions are an opportunity for the public and College community to find out more about the proposals for the southern section of the Campus and give their input.

The masterplan aims to support research and innovation by creating a place where researchers, businesses and the local community meet, share ideas and collaborate.  The south site of the campus would provide new research and commercial space for Imperial and its partners, and the College is exploring the possibility of additional uses, which could include cafés and restaurants, retail, exhibition space or other community and cultural facilities. The campus could also include new homes and a hotel.

These uses would be set around a series of open spaces, accessible to everyone, which will ensure the campus is full of life and activity.  New pedestrian links to the surrounding area will improve connectivity through White City and invite local people in.

These exhibitions will take place on:

  • Friday 12 May 2017 (12:00 – 17:00) at the Harrow Club, 187 Freston Road, London W10 6TH
  • Monday 15 May and Wednesday 17 May at the Wolfson Café, Hammersmith Hospital (for members of Imperial with access to the Wolfson Café)
  • Saturday 13 May 2017 (14:30 – 18:00) at St Helen’s Church, St Helen’s Gardens, North Kensington, London W10 6LP
  • Thursday 18 May 2017 (11:00 – 16:00) at the Wood Lane Community Centre, 78 White City Close, London W12 7DZ
  • Friday 19 May 2017 (15:00 – 20:00) at the White City Community Centre, India Way, London W12 7QT
  • Saturday 20 May 2017 (10:00 – 15:00) at Brickfields Hall, Wood Lane Studios, Shinfield Street, London W12 0HN
  • Monday 22 May to Friday 26 May 2017 at the Main Entrance on the South Kensington Campus

The masterplanning team will be on hand at all of the exhibitions in White City, and at the College Main Entrance in South Kensington between 16:00 and 18:00 on Monday 22 May.

For members of Imperial at Hammersmith Hospital, the team will be in the Wolfson Café between 16.00 and 18.00 on Monday 15 May.

Professor Neil Alford, Imperial's Associate Provost (Academic Planning) said: “We are making a long-term commitment to create a world-leading research and innovation campus in White City.  Our new campus will provide space to expand our work and offer new collaborations with business and academia, as well as the local community and other partners.  We want to gather input to feed into our proposals for the southern part of the campus, involving our community at an early stage and long into the future.”

The College already has a long-term presence in White City with several buildings either open or under construction on the part of the campus north of the Westway (A40).  The Molecular Sciences Research Hub will house research activities from Imperial’s Department of Chemistry, while construction has begun on the Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub, which will enable life-changing research into new and affordable medical technology. 

Research and tech-focused businesses are now moving into the Translation & Innovation Hub (I-HUB), a building dedicated to companies which turn research into new products and services.  The northern part of the campus is also home to 600 postgraduate students at the GradPad Wood Lane Studios, and a new residential building is under construction.

More information on the draft masterplan for the southern part of the White City Campus can be found by visiting the website, calling 020 7323 3544, emailing whitecityplanning@imperial.ac.uk or writing to FREEPOST White City Campus planning.