London is set for a new town which will see 25,000 homes built.
The town, which aims to be built within 30 years, will span across three London boroughs.
Called Old Oak, the town will sit across Brent, Ealing, and Hammersmith and Fulham.
It is expected that over 56,000 jobs will be created over the next 30 years, with the location of new jobs and workspace guided by the principles of a 20-minute neighbourhood.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service [LDRS] understands that this is a “long term vision over a 30 year period” which will be managed by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation [OPCD].
The OPCD is a Mayor of London-administered body set up to oversee the regeneration of the area.
The Grand Union Canal will run through the town, and stations including Old Oak Common and North Acton will be closely accessible for new residents.
It is understood that no homes will be demolished to make way for the 25,000 new homes.
Instead, unutilised pockets of land owned by public sector organisations and bodies will be used to provide the space for homes to be built. It is hoped this will “transform” the area into “one of the best connected communities in the country.”
The new town will be central to meeting the Mayor’s ambition to make London the “global capital of life sciences”, supported by WestTech London. Much of the 70 acres of land is currently industrial sites and is considered “London’s largest brownfield opportunity.”
Of the 25,000 new homes, the new Ealing Council framework suggests that at least half should be “affordable”, and 1,000 should be council homes available for social rent - which is four per cent of homes built. Ealing Council say this would help “prevent and address the affordable housing crisis in the borough.”
As of September 2024, Ealing Council had over 8,000 households on the waiting list for a socially rented home. In 2023, more than 4,500 households approached the council as homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness - which the council said at the time was “the highest rate in the region and our highest rate on record”.
The council framework also sets out an ambition of delivering at least four hectares of new open space, which is the equivalent of six football pitches. It is also expected that land currently used to support the construction of the HS2 Old Oak Common station will be used to provide new housing and open space.
The framework places a strong emphasis on creating well-paid, good jobs in high growth sectors at Old Oak for local people. The council document also requests a range of housing be provided, including homes for older residents and those needing specialist accommodation.
Council leader Peter Mason said: “The new town being built at Old Oak will deliver much needed new homes and jobs, as well as parks, for the borough. This framework sets out our ambition to ensure that everyone who already lives or works here can benefit from them.
“While OPDC is the local planning authority and regeneration agency for the area, Ealing Council remains the custodian of the communities, residents, and businesses within it. We are committed to further deepening our strong working relationship with OPDC to ensure that Old Oak offers meaningful, long-term opportunities for all our residents and businesses.”
David Lunts, Chief Executive of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, said: “Ealing residents will be on the doorstep of all the fantastic amenities and opportunities Old Oak brings in the future. We share Ealing Council’s ambitions to create an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable place for current and future generations and will work closely with Ealing and other host boroughs throughout Old Oak’s development.”
