QPR's £175m regeneration scheme secures approval

Plans for the £175m Old Oak regeneration project in west London have been approved, paving the way for a new stadium for Queens Park Rangers.

Plans put forward by Genesis Housing Association and Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) havce been approved by the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC). It is the first major planning application to be cleared by the OPDC.

The £175m mixed use regeneration project includes 605 new homes and what is described as ‘a new creative neighbourhood’ that hopes to attract technology companies to relocate there.

The project will also provide a link road into Old Oak, opening up the wider area to regeneration. Ultimately, 25,500 new homes and 65,000 new jobs could be provided at Old Oak and Park Royal over the next 30-40 years – as well as being a transport interchange for Crossrail and HS2.

The Oaklands site is located on the western part of the Old Oak regeneration area, south of the Grand Union Canal. It is currently a vacant site that has been unoccupied for 10 years. It was previously used as offices and a hostel. Genesis and QPR are working together because Genesis controls the Oaklands site and QPR has other strategic land interests in Old Oak and would like to build a new stadium as part of the wider development.

The scheme will now go to the mayor of London for final review. Work is due to start before March 2017 and is expected to take three years to complete.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes said: “This is the start of long term strategic investment for QPR at Old Oak and demonstrates our commitment to the area. Whilst our primary interest is securing the future of the club through the construction of a new stadium, we will only be able to deliver this by taking equity interests in wider regeneration projects such as Oaklands. We are continuing to talk to the OPDC about our vision for a new stadium which will have sporting, educational and community facilities that will be used all year round.”

Genesis Housing Association chief executive Neil Hadden said: “We are delighted to be part of the redevelopment of Old Oak, one of Hammersmith and Fulham’s most important regeneration sites at which so many new homes will be built, of which 240 will be affordable.

“We are committed to the future regeneration of Old Oak and partnerships such as the one we have with QPR will enable us to invest, not only in building new homes, but in developing new communities.”