New report strengthens case for Kensal Crossrail

Kensal in North Kensington has a stronger case for a Crossrail station than any other location outside east London, according to a new study from Regeneris, a leading firm of economic analysts.

The study, which has strengthened the Council's long running campaign to bring Crossrail to Kensal, demonstrates that on a range of measures, Kensal's need is greater than most of the locations actually programmed to have stations.

• Read the report [PDF] (large file size 3.41Mb)

"Regeneris produced the London Development Agency's authoritative Crossrail regeneration study back in 2009, so this is authoritative new material that the Crossrail authorities must take into account," said the Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Sir Merrick Cockell.

According to the study, the area around the proposed Kensal station site has the fifth highest concentration of multiple deprivation along the entire route. The four stations in areas with higher levels are all in east London. It follows that Kensal has the highest concentration of disadvantage in the central and west London sections of the route.

Kensal also has the highest level of unemployment in the central and west London sections and the seventh highest along the entire route. The six stations with higher levels are all in east London.

In addition, the study finds that the station would reduce journey times to central London by an average of 25 minutes. That is the highest impact of any Crossrail station in central and west London. Only three Crossrail stations would save more time and again they are all in the east.

Business would also reap major benefits from a station. The Kensal site is a 67 acre brownfield site. In fact it is the seventh largest such site along the entire route and one of just two major brownfield sites in central London.

And even though it is not a traditional town centre or high street, Kensal is in the top ten (seventh) for the retail and business floor space in its one mile hinterland. With a turnover of £153m, Kensal is again in the top ten (ninth) of any location on the route for retail sales.

In the conclusion to its report, Regeneris find that there is "clearly scope to achieve significant lasting regeneration benefits in the hinterland of Kensal Station".

It goes on to say that had it been assessed at the outset of the Crossrail project Kensal "...would almost certainly have been included in the top six opportunity station hinterlands" identified by the London Development Agency as deserving a station on deprivation and equality grounds.

"Omitting Kensal from Crossrail would be a massive missed opportunity for London and the people of North Kensington, west Westminster and south Brent," said Sir Merrick.

"The regeneration case is compelling but so too is the transport case. Without a Kensal station there will be a three mile gap between Old Oak and Paddington, where some of the most disadvantaged people in the capital live. It cannot be right to bypass them when the Council itself is ready to meet the cost of the station. It really is time to say yes to Kensal Crossrail."