OPDC Good Growth Fund
Mayor awards £750,000 to Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) for public realm improvements at Scrubs Lane and Willesden Junction to benefit local communities
In early March 2018, the Mayor of London announced that the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) would be awarded £750,000 through Greater London Authority’s Good Growth Fund.
The funding will be used to improve the look and feel of public spaces that are already in use by the public every day. Changes will be made to transform the area into a more inviting environment for all who access and use Scrubs Lane and Willesden Junction, as well as to strengthen the presence of local heritage assets.
The benefits to the local community, residents and businesses alike, are expected to be felt as early as 2019, with initial projects scheduled to start around Willesden Junction station in Autumn 2019 and at the entrance to Wormwood Scrubs from Scrubs Lane from Summer 2020.
The projects planned to be delivered will make tangible improvements to:
- Willesden Junction Station: along Station Approach, OPDC have explored and will be looking to take forward initial ideas to carry out planting; install new benches and a noticeboard; improve wayfinding and possibly an artist commission to bring the vibrant and culturally diverse community who live, work, study and use the station to life
- Wormwood Scrubs: at Scrubs Lane entrance, likely activities will include the creation of new wayfinding and signage; fixing existing pathways and improving the route into Wormwood Scrubs. Furthermore, creative ways will be explored to improve habitats for wildlife and potentially new benches and water fountains for people and dogs
Combining these activities with other Old Oak and Park Royal: In the Making programmes such as OPDC’s Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England funded Great Place Scheme, OPDC will be developing further designs and ideas with local residents, businesses, students and workers so that community ideas, expertise and suggestions can be part of the co-creation process for the regeneration work that is and will continue to be taking place in Old Oak and Park Royal.
Notes
- Old Oak and Park Royal is one of London’s largest Opportunity Areas with a new High Speed 2 (HS2) and Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) superhub station due to open at Old Oak Common by 2026.
- Redevelopment of the area has the potential to deliver 24,000 new homes and 55,000 jobs in Old Oak and 1,500 new homes and 10,000 jobs on the adjoining Park Royal industrial estate.
- The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is the Mayor's Development Corporation for the district and was established in April 2015 to drive forward development plans for the wider area.
- OPDC has full planning powers within the 650 hectares site, which includes land in the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing and Brent.
- Find out more about The Good Growth Fund.
- The Good Growth Fund provides capital funding from sources including the Local Growth Fund and European Social Fund, as well as expert regeneration advice, design support and knowledge sharing opportunities. Read the Mayor's Press Release.
- The Great Place Scheme, using funds raised by the National Lottery, will initially be piloted in 16 locations across England. Funding comes from Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England, each of which are contributing £10m for projects lasting up to three years. There will also be complementary support from other organisations where relevant, such as Historic England through its Heritage Action Zone initiative.
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