Earl's Court transformation: new architects draw up 'vibrant vision' for stalled 40-acre regeneration scheme

New architects have been appointed to draw up a revised masterplan for the stalled scheme. 
Masterplan: the massive regeneration project has got back under way with the appointment of the two firms of architects
The Earls Court Development Company

Central London’s biggest stalled regeneration scheme got back under way today with the appointment of architects to create a new masterplan for up to 40 acres at Earl’s Court.

Farringdon-based Hawkins\Brown and Clerkenwell’s Studio Egret West will be responsible for creating a more “sustainable and vibrant” vision for a new district in west London.

The move comes six months after the former owners of the site, property company Capital & Counties, sold it in a £425 million deal following years of bitter clashes with Hammersmith and Fulham council.

The new majority owners, developers Delancey and Dutch pension fund APG, have handed back two estates — West Kensington and Gibbs Green — at the heart of the row to the Labour-run local authority.

Capital & Counties bought the land, which included the now demolished Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre as well as the estates, in 2012 when the council was run by the Conservatives.

It hired urban designer Sir Terry Farrell to draw up a £12 billion plan for a new town including 7,500 homes. However, only limited progress has been made apart from the Lillie Square upmarket housing development on the former Earl’s Court car park in Seagrave Road.

The project was overshadowed by a high-profile campaign of opposition from residents, who were strongly backed by the council after Labour seized control of the town hall in 2014 elections.

Delancey and APG have now formed a new vehicle, The Earl’s Court Development Company, that will work with Transport for London, which owns a 37 per cent stake.

Delancey chief executive Jamie Ritblat, speaking on behalf of The Earl’s Court Development Company, said: “As the current custodians of the project, we and the masterplan architects place engagement with the local community and wider stakeholders at the heart of our approach to design and development and alongside Hawkins\Brown and Studio Egret West we will be consulting every step of the way.”

The appointment comes after a six-month international competition.

They have been tasked with drawing up a vision with less upmarket private housing and more employment opportunities.

Hammersmith & Fulham leader Stephen Cowan, said: “We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with them [Delancey] and working with Hawkins\Brown and Studio Egret West.”