London Underground Elizabeth line: Old Oak residents furious as they slam creation of ‘West London’s Canary Wharf’

A “thriving new area” is being created at Old Oak Common and Park Royal in West London – at the only point where HS2 will meet the Elizabeth line.

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) was launched in 2015 by the Mayor of London, and is tasked with regenerating a large area of West London.

Covering the Old Oak and Park Royal areas, it is one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe.

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Old Oak and Park Royal will be the only place where the HS2 meets the Elizabeth line, and according to the OPDC, they will create “a thriving new area in the city; somewhere people will aspire to live, work and play, and a destination people will return to visit time and time again”.

CGI image of the proposed Old Oak Common Station in west London

But residents in the area are less than thrilled with the prospect of living in ‘West London’s Canary Wharf’.

According to Henry Peterson, adviser to the Old Oak Neighbourhood Forum and Chair of the St Quintin and Woodlands Neighbourhood Forum, the OPDC has “underperformed”.

The Old Oak Neighbourhood Forum was formed to “bring the added value of neighbourhood planning to the work of the Development Corporation”.

Henry says: “On very few occasions has OPDC taken on board comments and suggestions made by local community organisations.”

1 HS2 work at Old Oak Common

HS2 building at the Old Oak Common building site

There are naturally concerns about living in a ‘mini city’ for those who have until now lived in a relatively unknown part of London.

According to the Old Oak Neighbourhood Forum, they are concerned about “the potential impact of HS2 plans” both “for the long-term and during a decade of construction”, saying the neighbourhood will be “hugely impacted”.

There are also concerns about the OPDC’s ability to follow through on promises.

3 HS2

Once done, Old Oak Common station is expected to be one of London’s largest rail hubs

According to a January 2021 report by the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee about the OPDC, there were “serious concerns about the OPDC’s budget and performance.”

“Although having spent £42.7 million to date, the Corporation has little to show for it,” the report reads.

“The north west London site remains almost exactly the same as five years ago”.

The report also added “this would seem to indicate an inability to match its actions with its ambitions”.

In the original plans from 2015 set out by Boris Johnson, it was stated that “The Old Oak area could accommodate 24,000 homes and 55,000 jobs.”

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Now, Henry says the OPDC “has played its cards badly and has proved reluctant to accept that the original target of 24,500 new homes at Old Oak was unrealistic in terms of availability of suitable housing sites”.

He also adds that there is concern about how much of a say the Old Oak community have in the decisions being made, saying that “on very few occasions has OPDC taken on board comments and suggestions made by local community organisations”.

David Lunts, CEO of the OPDC, said: “like all major projects of this type, our plans won’t happen overnight.

“However, far from having nothing to show, OPDC has already overseen plans for 6,000 new homes, nearly 40% of which are affordable housing, and many of which are now built, with new residents in occupation.

“We are absolutely committed to inclusive collaboration and engagement with local partners, stakeholders and our community on all our future plans,” David continued, “and have a comprehensive range of innovative arrangements to ensure this is the case, including a Community Review Group of local residents who provide detailed feedback on all new developments before planning decisions are made.”

0 HS2 building work

Local residents who overlook the HS2 building site at Old Oak Common station

About the disagreements between the OPDC and the community, Henry says “OPDC will argue that the Corporation has consulted extensively with ‘the community’.

“The main local organisations in the area will say that any meaningful dialogue has been limited.”

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