Plans have been submitted for a major mixed-use development at Earls Court, west London, that would become one of the country’s largest regeneration schemes.
Construction is due to start by the end of 2026 on the multi-decade project to redevelop the former Earls Court Exhibition Centre, which Keltbray demolished in 2015. Data provider Glenigan estimates the project is worth £8.5bn.
The Earls Court Development Company’s (ECDC’s) masterplan contains 4,000 homes, 230,000 square metres of workspace and three new cultural venues across the 700,000 square metre site. The plot straddles two London boroughs: Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham.
ECDC’s plans are significantly broader than those of the site’s original developer, Capco, which pulled out of the project in 2019. Capco had originally proposed 1,000 homes across a 120,000 square metre site.
If approved, the Earls Court regeneration will join the ranks of the £8bn Brent Cross scheme in west London and the £6bn Meridian Water development in north London as one of the capital’s biggest construction projects.
A decision is expected by next summer, after which construction would start in late 2026. The entire masterplan should be completed in 2041, finishing in phases from 2030 onwards.
Among the freshly submitted plans are detailed proposals for six buildings making up the development’s first phase to provide 1,500 homes, a park, commercial building, cultural venue, community hub, nursery and around 25 shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
A 42-storey, 158 metre-tall residential building will contain 278 dual aspect homes for open-market sale, neighbouring a 32-storey student accommodation building with 696 rooms.
Around 930 square metres of restaurant and cafe space will form part of a 27-storey, 202-home tower next to a 20-storey, 108-home building with a 280 square metre nursery at ground level.
ECDC, a joint venture between Delancey, Dutch pension fund manager APG and Places for London – Transport for London’s property company – worked up the plans over four years after acquiring the site in December 2019.
Chief executive Rob Heasman said Earls Court would become a “place with personality”, and have a “broad cultural appeal”.
He said: “We have listened to the wealth of stories and taken huge inspiration from Earls Court’s heritage as a place that dared to showcase, to entertain and celebrate the spectacular.”
