6th January 2012
A First for London as Imperial plans a new generation live/work, mixed-use academic campus, with research and teaching facilities, state-of-the-art commercial and high-quality living space.
Imperial College London has submitted a 87,900 sq m planning application to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the balance of its regeneration proposals for the former BBC site on Wood Lane, currently known as Imperial West.
Regularly ranked in the to 3 universities in the IK and among the top 10 in the world, Imperial is looking to expand its activities in West London. The Imperial West mixed-use scheme will provide a new generation live/work environment bringing together a range of uses including academic and research facilities, with state-of-the-art commercial and residential space. The Development of this new open access campus, will form a major element of the wider regeneration of White City Opportunity Area, which is being promoted by London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Greater London Authority, with the first phase of 606 postgraduate studions and nine homes for key workers already under construction.
Following extensive consultation with London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and the GLA Team promoting the White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework, as well as wider public consultation ober the summer and autumn which included meetings with local residents' groups and four public exhibitions, the Masterplan proposals, designed by architects Aukett Fitzroy Robinson and PLP Architecture, comprise:-
- World class facilities for health and biomedical research - the facilities will bring together academics from across the College to provide a centre of excellence to attract and retain the very best scientists, toa ddress the major global health challenges of the 21st century.
- New Business Acceleratorer - delivering research and offlice launch pad space for new technology start-up businesses developed by the College's technology transfer company, Imperial Innovations pls, which is the largest ealy stage IP exploitation company in the sector across Europe.
- Grade A office space - for College technology partner organisations, creating an environment where commerce and entrepreneurs can develop together in a world-leading academic research environment.
- New homes - 1, 2 and 3 bedroom private, NHS and College key worker homes.
- Publicly accessible square - an extensively landscaped, open green space at the heart of the development, forming a new Lonfon square the size of Soho Square, opening up a site which has been closed to the public for may decades.
- Pedestriana and cycle access - new safe routes throughout the site, opening up and linking with the wider Opportunity Area.
- Four-star hotl - including conference and leisure facilities, health/fitness, restaurant and coffee shop.
- New local convenience services - including retail, pharmacy, healthcare services, early years' education nursery.
John Anderson, Project Director for Imperial West, said:
"Imperial West will enable the College to ecpand upon the success of its South Kensington site to create a second, open access academic campus that provides the physical infrastructure for world-class research and teaching, leading-edge facilities for business development and technology transfer, and create an attractive environment to live and work in.
"Imperial West will provide real and lasting benefits for the capital, helping grow the London economy, and has the capacity to generate and sustain over 3,000 jobs.
"We have consulted widely with the planning authorities and local residents and this process has helped inform the basis of out planning application. In particular, we have refined the designs of the residential building, the academic health building and the office building to respond positively to residents' comments as well as to the requirements of the planning authorities and Greater London Authority."
www.woodlanestudios.co.uk
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