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Earls Court masterplan could see estates transferred back to council
The developer of a huge and controversial west London regeneration scheme is developing a new masterplan which could see two estates listed for demolition transferred back to council control.
Residents of the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates in west London have fought a long battle against developer Capco’s plans to demolish their homes as part of a £12bn regeneration of Earl’s Court.
On Monday Stephen Cowan, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, wrote to residents saying that the developer plans to submit a new masterplan for the project.
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“If that gets planning permission, we would see the two estates return to council control,” he wrote. “There are many steps before finalising this agreement but I wanted to let you know as soon as possible about what’s happening.”
A council spokesperson has confirmed that the letter, which was shared on Twitter, is genuine.
Very promising news #EarlsCourt @saveEarlsCourt #saveourhomes pic.twitter.com/stg2gCaf0Z
— West Ken Gibbs Green (@WestKenGibbsGr)Very promising news #EarlsCourt @saveEarlsCourt #saveourhomes pic.twitter.com/stg2gCaf0Z
— West Ken Gibbs Green (@WestKenGibbsGr) November 7, 2017
The plans for the regeneration were approved in 2012 when the council was under Conservative control.
In his letter to residents, Mr Cowan said the estates were sold by the council for “just £110m with a weak and insufficient provision for replacement affordable homes”.
“This was a poor deal for residents. In fact, the terms of that contract failed to guarantee to provide replacement, like-for-like homes for all the current estates’ residents, which meant many residents would not be rehoused,” he said.
The plans sparked an angry backlash and national media attention as campaigners battled to save the estates. In local elections in 2014, the Conservatives lost control of the borough to Labour, which had promised to halt the demolition of the estates.
But in September 2015, after months of negotiations, the council wrote to residents saying it could not stop the developer’s plans to knock the homes down, as Capco had legally bought the land – effectively admitting defeat.
Residents had been seeking to block the plans by requesting a transfer of the estates into community ownership.
A spokesperson for Capco said: “Our existing contractual arrangement with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in relation to the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates remains legally binding, however we are working closely with the Council to bring forward an enhanced masterplan for the Earls Court Opportunity Area. An enhanced masterplan would seek to deliver an increased number of homes across all tenures throughout the wider Opportunity Area and could involve LBHF taking the lead on future plans for the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates.”
However, Capco stressed that if a new masterplan is not agreed the conditional land sale of the estates would "remain in place".
Capco has struggled with falling values in the luxury central London market in recent years, with the valuation of the Earl’s Court scheme falling from £1.4bn to £1.1bn.
Jonathan Rosenberg, a community organiser connected to the campaign, hailed the letter as a sign of victory.
"For nine long years, residents have been fighting to save their homes and preserve their community," he said. "Our campaign has been through some very dark times. But right now there is a tremendous wave of excitement sweeping across the estates.
"The council leader is working very hard to get the estates out of the land sale contract. We believe that our campaign is on course for victory and we look forward to finally lifting the curse that has so sorely afflicted our community."
