White City plans get green light

An artist's impression of the new development

Imperial’s long term ambitions for its White City Campus were given the green light as the south site masterplan won approval.

The White City south masterplan, a 240,000 sq m outline application to develop the 14 acre site located south of the Westway on Wood Lane, was unanimously approved by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) on Tuesday.

The £1.3 billion development identifies a number of building plots and two larger development zones which will take approximately 20 years to complete.  

Imperial’s vision for the White City Campus south site is to provide dynamic co-location facilities that support collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of ideas between Imperial’s student and academic community, businesses, and partners from government and the local community.

Around 180,000 sq m of space will be dedicated to research and business uses that will enable scientific researchers, corporate partners and entrepreneurs to turn cutting-edge scientific research into real-world benefits for society.  

Alongside space for research and collaboration, the masterplan includes provision for up to 373 new homes alongside a new hotel and spaces for retail and leisure, including cafes and restaurants.

A series of flexible outdoor spaces and new pedestrian routes will provide attractive focal points that could be used to host events, science and technology exhibitions, or performances. With these lively and vibrant public spaces, the campus will be a place where people can meet, collaborate and share ideas.

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A key component of the masterplan is its flexibility, and a framework that ensures responsiveness to the College’s future needs and requirements.  

Professor Neil Alford, Associate Provost (Academic Planning), said: “Our south site masterplan promises to expand substantially our research facilities at White City and cultivate new collaborations with business, government and academia, alongside our neighbours in the local community.”

“We are already seeing White City rapidly establish itself as a leading district for research, translation and innovation. This masterplan will expand the College’s presence in west London by creating an exciting and rich environment for exploration, experimentation, risk-taking and growth”.

The College will now work with LBHF and the Mayor’s Office respectively to agree the necessary planning and legal documents to enable the scheme to be brought forward over the next number of years.