Pickles approves creation of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation

Pickles approved the proposed creation of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (DC) on Tuesday and the mayor of London's office confirmed that an order had been laid before Parliament to create the DC.

Old Oak Common is the planned site for a new High Speed 2 and Crossrail station due to open in 2026. Along with neighbouring Park Royal, the area has been earmarked for regeneration in the London Plan, with the expected creation of up to 55,000 new jobs and 24,000 new homes.

Once established the DC is intended to become the local planning authority for 950 hectares of land in the area, straddling parts of the London Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent and Ealing. The DC is intended to receive powers to acquire land, prepare local plans and decide planning applications, and is also intended to be able to set its own community infrastructure levy.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said in a statement: "The vast new station at Old Oak Common presents us with an almost unprecedented opportunity to transform an area the size of a small London borough into a thriving new part of the capital, with unrivalled transport links to central London, the rest of the country and beyond. London will shortly become home to more people than ever before and there is no doubt that this scheme will provide a real shot- in-the-arm as we look to provide the new homes and jobs that we desperately need."

Communities secretary Eric Pickles said: "Housebuilding is a key part of the government’s long-term economic plan, so it is absolutely right that delivering new homes is at the heart of this exciting regeneration scheme. Today’s deal will create a whole new community in west London, delivering up to 24,000 new homes and over 50,000 new jobs, with excellent transport links both into the capital and across the country."

Subject to parliamentary approval, the mayor of London's office said the DC would come into existence on 1 April. A further piece of legislation would then be required to give the DC planning powers.