A whole series of public consultations is taking place on the Old Oak area (north of Wormwood Scrubs). \u00a0These flow from plans to locate the HS2 and Crossrail transport hub at this location, subject to the approval of the HS2 Bill currently in Parliament.<\/p>\n
Mayoral Development Corporation<\/strong><\/p>\n Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has been consulting on proposals <\/a>to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation for the Old Oak Opportunity Area. \u00a0This body would steer plans for development across the area, from Park Royal in the west to Wood Lane in the East.<\/p>\n The StQW Forum has submitted comments opposing the Mayor’s proposals, as a MDC would take away planning powers from the three London Borough Councils involved. \u00a0We share the view of Hammersmith & Fulham Council that a MDC would prove more remote from the views of local people, and less democratically accountable. \u00a0We do not share the current Mayor of London’s vision for a ‘mini-Manhattan’ at Old Oak, involving building heights of 50 storeys. \u00a0Nor do we believe that high density development at Old Oak should be allowed to damage or encroach on Wormwood Scrubs, as a Metropolitan Open Space.<\/p>\n QPR plans for New Queens Park<\/strong><\/p>\n Queens Park Football Club (back in the Premier League this season) are consulting on ambitious plans <\/a>for a new 40,000 stadium and associated housing and commercial development on land to the north of Wormwood Scrubs, between Old Oak Lane and Scrubs Lane. \u00a0The Club do not own a significant slice of this land, which is held by Car Giant, who have their own ideas on development.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, QPR has assembled a team of planners and consultants to draw up a masterplan for the site. \u00a0Details remain sketchy at this stage, but events are moving fast and masterplanners Farrells <\/a>intend to submit a planning application shortly after the proposed Old Oak MDC goes live in April 2015 (if this happens – given opposition from the Borough Councils).<\/p>\n The StQW Forum is flagging up with Farrells the major problems of traffic congestion on the existing road network around Old Oak, and in particular Wood Lane\/Scrubs Lane and the junction at North Pole Road. \u00a0 We are also resisting the idea (being built into revisions to the London Plan) that Old Oak is a suitable location for a new cluster of very tall buildings and ultra high density of residential and commercial floorspace.<\/p>\n Overground connections at Old Oak<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Transport for London is also consulting on options for an interchange at Old Oak, between the Overground (West London Line and North London Line) and the HS2 and Crossrail platforms. \u00a0 This is an important consultation for the StQW area. \u00a0 Access to public transport in the StQW Neighbourhood is compararatively low for Inner London, as our nearest Undergrounds are at Latimer Road and White City and we have no Overground station nearer than Shepherds Bush. \u00a0Our neighbourhood was better served in the late 19th century, with a St Quintin and Wormwood Scrubs rail station (closed after bomb damage in the 1940s).<\/p>\n Of the 3 options set out in the TfL consultation material,<\/a> we think that Option C is by far the best option.<\/strong> \u00a0This includes a WLL station at Hythe Road, and drops earlier ideas of a very expensive ‘Boris viaduct’ running across the northern boundary of the Scrubs.<\/p>\n