Have your say on Westway's future

08 May 2012

A bright future for the area underneath and around the Westway in North Kensington, with exciting new retail and business opportunities and art, leisure and sports facilities has been outlined in a draft planning brief published by the Council.

The draft sets out the Council's vision for the area and what it believes developers would need to include in any planning applications. The public will be able to give their views on the planning brief up until Friday 8 June.

Construction of the Westway Flyover was completed in 1970. The development was controversial leading to the demolition of many properties and the severance of a number of roads. Despite the passage of time, the scars of this development have still not completely healed and it is hoped that this document help create a better environment improving links between communities to the north and the south of the flyover.

Consultation on the future of the 23-acre site established a number of key principles including:

 An ongoing requirement to provide office space and facilities for existing and new community-based charities and organisations that are focussed upon the delivery of services and support to local people

 Providing for the particular needs and demands of young adults, including the retention or reprovision of the existing skate park facilities

 Maintaining a trading environment for the Portobello Market, which is important to local economic vitality, and providing improved market facilities

 Providing new and replacement accommodation capable of meeting the needs of a wide range of small-scale business users

 Sustaining existing creative industries and providing new opportunities to cater for potential future demand

 Consolidating and enhancing existing sports facilities

 Improving the quality of the environment, safety and access

 Enhancing connections, particularly to White City and to the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in general.

In parallel with the previous public consultation exercise, a number of other technical studies and assessments have been undertaken in order to gain an understanding of the area and the issues it faces.

The area supports a number of existing land uses and functions that due to their location and proximity to other uses are not fulfilling their potential. There is an opportunity to improve the long-term sustainability of the area both through the relocation of certain land uses to more appropriate locations and/or through the redevelopment of existing sites and buildings to allow for the introduction of more appropriate and complementary uses and functions.

Councillor Tim Ahern, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: "This is a very important document indeed and sets out just what we believe any future development of the area underneath and around the Westway should include. I urge local residents and businesses to look at it carefully and to have their say on the future of this important area.

"I believe that in the years ahead we could see a far more accessible, inviting and indeed thriving Westway at the heart of North Kensington."

The draft planning brief gives detailed information on specific areas and amenities including the Westway Sports Centre and Stable Way, Maxilla Walk, Malton Road, Thorpe Close and Acklam Road.

Once the consultation period is over the planning brief will be adopted as an official Supplementary Planning Document which will provide a blueprint for potential future development of the area.

To view the draft planning brief go to
www.rbkc.gov.uk/planningandconservation.aspx


A copy can be picked up from the following locations during normal office hours:
Town Hall: Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX (Mon to Fri: 9am to 5pm);
Kensington Central Library: Phillimore Walk, London, W8 7RX (Mon: 9:30am to 8pm; Tue: 9:30am to 8pm; Wed: 9:30am to 5pm; Thurs: 9:30am to 8pm; Fri: 9:30am to 5pm; Sat: 9:30am to 5pm);
Chelsea Library: Chelsea Old Town Hall Kings Road, London, SW3 5EZ (Mon: 9:30am to 8pm; Tue: 9:30am to 8pm; Wed: 9:30am to 5pm; Thurs: 9:30am to 8pm; Fri: 9:30am to 5pm; Sat: 9:30am to 5pm);
North Kensington Library: 108 Ladbroke Grove, London, W11 1PZ (Mon: 9:30am to 8pm; Tue: 9:30am to 8pm; Wed: 9:30am to 5pm; Thurs: 9:30am to 8pm; Fri: 9:30am to 5pm; Sat: 9:30am to 5pm);
Brompton Library: 210 Old Brompton Road, London, SW5 0BS (Mon: 9:30am to 8pm; Tue: 9:30am to 8pm; Wed: 9:30am to 5pm; Thurs: 9:30am to 8pm; Fri: 9:30am to 5pm; Sat: 9:30am to 5pm);
Notting Hill Gate Library: Pembridge Square, London, W2 4EW (Mon: 1pm to 8pm; Tue: 1pm to 7pm; Wed: CLOSED; Thurs: 9.30am to 1pm; Fri: 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm; Sat: 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm); and
Kensal Library: 20 Golborne Road, London, W10 5PF (Mon: 1pm to 6pm; Tue: 1pm to 6pm; Wed: Closed; Thurs: 1pm to 6pm; Fri: 9.30am to 5pm; Saturday: 9.30am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm)

If you wish to send your comments in writing please send them to:
The Executive Director, Planning and Borough Development
Policy Team
Kensington Town Hall,
Hornton Street,
London W8 7NX