Earl's Court project reaches 'major milestone' with planning backed by LBHF and RBKC

Since 2022, a broad range of Knight Frank's services including the Commercial London Offices and Residential Development Strategy & Finance teams have played a pivotal role in supporting the Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) in delivering the transformational £10 billion scheme.

The masterplan will transform central London's largest cleared development site, which spans both the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

As of Wednesday 17^th December, the scheme has formally been given the resolution to grant permission from the two planning authorities it sits under, for the redevelopment of the former Earls Court Exhibition Centres.

The long empty site will become a new neighbourhood delivering c.4,000 homes for all stages of life, 12,000 jobs, three world-class cultural venues collectively accommodating over 2,500 people, and 2.5 million sq ft of climate innovation workspace, all set within 20 acres of public realm and green space with over 1,000 trees.   

Angus Goswell, Chairman of London Offices at Knight Frank said: “The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) is responsible for the transformation on behalf of the Earls Court Partnership Limited – a joint venture between Delancey (on behalf of its client funds), the Dutch pension fund manager APG, and Places for London, Transport for London's property company. The size, scale and core location of the scheme makes the project genuinely unique and warrants the extraordinary vision that ECDC have created for the project over the last few years.

“The masterplan evolved through extensive engagement and co-design with local communities, ensuring that the voices of those who live and work near the site are reflected in the plans.”

The development will deliver affordable homes and pilot innovative approaches to housing to address a range of London's housing needs. Sustainability will underpin the development, with a climate-resilient landscape embedding an ambition to go beyond net zero and generating an 85% increase in biodiversity across the site.

The well-connected development benefits from three tube stations on its doorstep, as well as several bus routes, allowing residents and visitors to travel around the local area and further afield with ease.

Nick Parr, Head of Development Strategy & Finance at Knight Frank, said: "Over the past four years, we've been delighted to support ECDC in reaching this incredible result. Having cleared two major planning hurdles with both committees supportive of the scheme – will now mean work can start on site as soon as possible.

"As masterplan advisors on what is London's most important and complex development site in a generation, we've worked with our client across every aspect of the scheme - from residential and commercial to BTR, PBSA, senior living and strategic uses, helping to determine the best use for the land and deliver a truly best-in-class mixed-use development.

“We look forward to continuing to support ECDC through to delivery as the project moves forward."

Reinstating its position as a destination for innovation and discovery, Earls Court will be a showcase for sustainability with workspace focused on the climate innovation sector, supporting start-ups, scale-ups, creatives and multinationals. The development will deliver on the London Growth Plan and Upstream London, supported by a zero-carbon energy network with a zero operational carbon target.

Rob Heasman, Chief Executive of ECDC, said: "This marks a major milestone, following years of active listening and engagement with local communities and the development of designs that are truly reflective of Earls Court's heritage as a place that dared – to showcase, to entertain and celebrate the spectacular.

“We would like to thank all who have contributed so much of their time, energy and consideration to help us shape both applications. That includes residents, local businesses, community groups and charities, as well as the Leadership officers and councillors.

"Earls Court will be a new district in West London. A long-underused, centrally located site with exceptional connectivity to deliver new homes, jobs and public space at scale – a strategic part of London's growth agenda.

Heasman concluded: “Our focus will now turn firmly to delivery, working collectively with the public sector to secure the range of homes, jobs and public benefits which this site can deliver for London and the UK.”

Once complete, the final development will create £3 billion per year of economic impact to the UK economy, and support 23,500 jobs right across the country.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy, serving as our clients’ partners in property for 128 years. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank has more than 27,000 people operating from 600 offices across 50 territories. The Group advises clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants. For further information about the Firm, please visit knightfrank.com.