Designer Scrubs: Sir Terry Farell to shape Old Oak Common

Sir Terry Farrell (rt) and Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh

The High Speed Rail service which is set to slash journey times between London and the Midlands with a shiny new train line, stopping at Old Oak Common, is set to fire the regeneration of this neglected part of our borough in style thanks to the appointment of world renowned architects Terry Farrell and Partners by our Council.

The interchange will also connect with the new Crossrail servvice which in turn will connect the Common interchange to the continent and also the Bakerloo and Central tube lines. In short, the plans will take what has for too long been a desolate corner and turning it into a bustling hub with the potential to generate growth and employment. And that's no bad thing at all for the likes of East Acton and Shepherd's Bush.


It is projected that HS2 will bring 10,000 new homes and 20,000 new jobs to west London, regenerating an area in the bottom fifth of the most deprived areas in Britain. At the time of the last census just over a half of working age adults living within 1.3miles of the site were in employment, falling to less than half for those living within 0.7 miles. H&F Leader Stephen Greenhalgh said:

“Old Oak Common has the potential to be as significant for west London as the redevelopment of Stratford has been for the east of the city."

“H&F Council is determined to demonstrate what the regeneration of the area can achieve and to present a vision for the future of Old Oak.”

Sir Terry Farrell said,

"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to work on a project that will not only reshape west London, but have a huge impact on the country as a whole.

“High Speed Rail is not just a transportation strategy; it’s a nationwide economic catalyst that requires creative placemaking. At Farrells we have previously worked on proposals for Euston and Birmingham stations in relation to HS2 and are helping reshape Ashford and Folkestone thanks to the economic stimulus provided by the arrival of HS1.

“Old Oak Common presents an exceptional opportunity and we look forward to developing a clear vision to maximise the benefits of HS2."

H&F Council is engaging with the Mayor of London, Transport for London and other west London councils before making its submission to the Department for Transport consultation that closes on 29 July. Cllr Greenhalgh will also be giving evidence to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee on 28 June.

This is a real shot in the arm for the borough and the Council have done well to persuade the Government, as I reported here, to site the station here. It wasn't a foregone conclusion.