First View of Detailed Plans for Earl's Court Redevelopment

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CGI released of scheme containing 4,000 flats and a 42-storey tower

A visualisation of the plans for Earl's Court . Picture: ECDC

March 13, 2024

Images of the first phase of a potential new 4,000-flat Earl’s Court development have been revealed. A 42-storey residential building and student accommodation are among the plans for phase one of the Earl’s Court redevelopment project, which the company behind the scheme says will put the area “back on the map”.

The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) has begun introducing detailed plans for the first phase to the public, with the intention of submitting an application in June. Work is then expected to start in 2026, subject to approval.

Sharon Giffen, Head of Design at ECDC, said the scheme presents “an outstanding opportunity to be different at Earl’s Court, to curate a neighbourhood which works for existing and future communities and leaves a legacy of which we can all be proud”.

A 27-storey building would not be the tallest tower in the development. Picture: ECDC

The masterplan for the 40-acre former Exhibition Centre site was first revealed by ECDC in early 2023 after two years of planning. As well as the flats, it includes a range of cultural and green spaces, plus a research and development hub for green tech.

If approved, the first phase will consist of 1,000 homes, a cultural centre, workspace and 20 acres of public realm. ECDC says it will open up the site “for the first time in 150 years” and lay the groundwork for the creation of a new neighbourhood with homes, leisure facilities and more.

Visualisation of the scheme at ground floor level. Picture: ECDC

Several tall residential buildings are planned as part of phase one, the tallest of which will be a 42-storey tower. ECDC says the huge structure, in which there will be 290 flats plus amenities such as a gym and workspace, will “stand proudly as a wayfinder and put Earls Court onto London’s skyline”.

Alan Shingler, Partner at Sheppard Robson, one of the architectural firms behind the tower, said, “Sheppard Robson’s design for the tallest building within the masterplan has a significant role to play in setting the context for a new part of London located on the former Exhibition Centre site. Our designs have been informed by the exciting and inspiring ambition set by our client and by working in close collaboration with a great team of architects and the broader project team.

“The distinctive building form is derived from a petal plan that provides a new blueprint for high-rise living. Generous, stepped terraces create a memorable silhouette on the London skyline, with this sustainable beacon celebrating the legacy of Earl’s Court as a showground for world-class ingenuity.”

The redevelopment is designed to be zero carbon, and to have a low-cost energy heat network. Excess heat will be taken from surrounding infrastructure and turned into energy, the first part of which will be delivered within the first phase.

Ms Giffen from ECDC said, “We have an outstanding opportunity to be different at Earl’s Court, to curate a neighbourhood which works for existing and future communities and leaves a legacy of which we can all be proud. Working collaboratively with our stakeholders and team of fantastic designers, we are focused on an inclusive approach which will create a better piece of city, delivering the heritage of the future through exemplary design and sustainability.”

In addition to the 4,000-plus flats, ECDC is proposing amenities including three cultural venues, new gardens and a 4.5-acre urban park. Of the housing units, 35 per cent are expected to be affordable. ECDC also says it projects the potential redevelopment will add £1.2 billion to the economy, and £100 million to the annual spend locally.

The former Exhibition Centre was closed in 2014 and demolished in 2015 by previous owners. ECDC, which is a joint venture between property investors Delancey, Dutch pension fund manager APG, and Transport for London (TfL), bought the site in 2019.

Ben Lynch – Local Democracy Reporter