Westfield Shows Off Updated Expansion Plans at Public Exhibition

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Centre announces 6,700 new jobs amid plans for fifth anniversary celebrations

Westfield London is unveiling updated expansion plans at a public exhibition taking place in the shopping centre on Friday October 11 and Saturday October 12.

The new proposals are being revealed amid plans to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Westfield's opening on October 30.

The Shepherd's Bush shopping centre is also expected to confirm in the next few weeks that its new extension will include a flagship John Lewis store.

Westfield says it is unveiling reconfigured, detailed proposals for its next phase of a mixed-use retail and residential quarter north of the centre.

In March last year, Westfield was granted outline planning permission for a £1 billion mixed-use development adjacent to the existing centre, with up to 1,522 homes, new leisure facilities and new shops, including a new, flagship department store. Since then, it says it has been refining the proposal to deliver "an enhanced experience for consumers, retailers and future residents".

Westfield London says it has already created over 8,000 jobs including almost 100 new apprentices in 2013, and the new plans are expected to deliver a further 6,700 new jobs as well as a range of training opportunities and apprenticeships. The extension is expected to generate an estimated £200 million a year in wages and benefits within the local economy.

The enhanced scheme is part of Westfield’s ongoing investment and commitment to the Borough and the region with KidZania, the internationally-renowned children’s entertainment and education venue, currently under construction and due to open in late 2014 / early 2015 which will see the creation of a further 500 new permanent jobs.

The majority of the new homes will be located adjacent to the West Cross Route in a series of contemporary mansion buildings, creating a new residential community around a public green square, separated from the main shopping zone.

The vision incorporates a more distinct piazza, which will now be created around the Grade II listed DIMCO buildings, complete with small shops, leisure and community space, along with a reconfigured bus interchange.

The updated scheme will establish an important and iconic new gateway into the expanded town centre through innovative, stand-out architecture, connecting Shepherd’s Bush with the BBC Television Centre and the rest of the White City Opportunity Area. A strong east-west connection will be created across the site linking Kensington and Chelsea with the BBC Television Centre while the archways underneath the Hammersmith and City Line viaduct will be opened up, connecting Shepherd’s Bush with the planned White City Green.

Westfield has also commenced an international campaign, being carried out by Knight Frank London, to seek residential developers to build the new homes.

Duncan Bower, Director of Development and Asset Management, says: “This is a really exciting time for Westfield London as we celebrate five years in West London. Our expansion plans are taking a major step forward and KidZania is now under construction.

" Our proposals will expand our unrivalled retail offer by introducing a new, flagship department store while adding to our existing shops, dining and leisure facilities and creating a massive 6,700 new jobs. We are committed to ensuring as many local people as possible receive these jobs and we have already begun working closely with local organisations to help achieve this. The incorporation of many hundreds of new homes for Londoners is also a very exciting and timely aspect of our expansion.”

Local residents are invited to attend Westfield’s public exhibition to find out more, meet the development team and give their views on the draft plans. The public exhibition will take place at Westfield London, n the first floor just outside The Village on:

• · Friday 11 October, 2pm - 8pm
• · Saturday 12 October, 10am - 4pm

Following the public exhibition, all feedback will be reviewed and considered before a planning application is submitted to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham later this year. If approved, Westfield anticipates beginning works in 2014 with the first phases complete by 2017.

The draft plans will also be available from Friday at http://www.westfieldlondon-plans.co.uk

For more information, residents can contact a member of the development team on 020 7323 3544 or email: contact@westfieldlondon-plans.co.uk

October 9, 2013