Following Imperial’s consultation on changes to its White City Campus masterplan, we are now preparing to make a S73 planning application to the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

Details of the changes Imperial is making to the South Campus Masterplan can be found below.

Imperial was granted outline planning permission from the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham for the southern half of the Campus in 2021 ref. 2018/00267/OUT), located south of the Westway (A40).  It is now looking to progress further development in this area.

We have carefully considered the future needs of staff, students and businesses based at White City Campus, as well as the needs of visitors and the local community. 

In response to this, we are updating our masterplan in the area south of the Westway and will be submitting what is known as a ‘Section 73’ planning application to the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in the coming months to vary the outline consent.

Proposed changes include:

  • An update to our energy strategy – to deliver an ‘all electric’, low carbon energy network for the campus, which will support Imperial’s net zero commitments
  • Improvements to the servicing strategy – a reduction in car parking provision and removal of an underground servicing road, and further prioritisation of pedestrians
  • A change of use to establish a greater academic presence – enabling us to bring forward plans for a new academic building and offer more space and facilities for students 

The White City Campus masterplan. This shows development zones located south of the Westway which were approved by London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in 2021. 

About the masterplan 

Outline planning permission for the area south of the Westway included approval for a range of uses, outline building plots, an approach to building design and sustainability, and supporting infrastructure such as transport and access routes.   

Proposals feature the creation of new workspaces and labs for innovation and research, as well as new homes, a hotel, cafés and amenities, with a public square at its centre. 

Updating the energy strategy 

As part of changes to this masterplan, we are looking to deliver an ‘all electric’, low temperature, low carbon, ambient loop energy network in the area south of the Westway which will use heat pumps to distribute heating and cooling to our future buildings. 

The proposed energy network will not require the use of fossil fuels and will support Imperial’s Net Zero by 2040 commitment. 

Improvements to the servicing strategy 

We wish to further limit the number of vehicles coming onto the campus by reducing car parking provision and removing impractical underground servicing routes which will help Imperial to lower the campus’ carbon footprint.  

Our masterplan includes a vehicle-free public realm, and changes to the masterplan will continue to give pedestrians priority throughout public spaces, minimising interactions between vehicles and campus users. 

Establishing a greater academic presence  

We did not initially envisage a significant academic presence on site when the masterplan was approved in 2021. The existing permission grants use for research facilities and offices in Development Zone 3 (shown on the map above). 

In recognising the value and importance of White City as a location for academic excellence, we want to grow our presence here, including relocating more departments from our campus in South Kensington, and offering more space and facilities for students to learn and study. 

Imperial will therefore be requesting a change to the outline planning permission to allow for academic uses in Development Zone 3, which will enable us to bring forward plans for an academic building, located at the arrival point from Wood Lane.  

Imperial is launching a consultation on the academic building on Monday 29 September and plans to submit a separate reserved matters application to the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham later in 2025.  

If you have any questions or comments about proposed changes to the White City Campus south masterplan, please contact us at imperialcollegelondon@camargue.uk, or speak to a member of the project team by calling our consultation hotline on 020 7323 3544.