Shaped by four years of community engagement, the 17.4-hectare masterplan envisions an inclusive, climate-resilient urban district in London. It will deliver 4,000 zero-carbon homes, 35 percent of which will be affordable. The project creates 12,000 jobs across research and development, clean tech, creative industries and startups, with 230,000 sq m of workspace, 28,000 sq m for retail, dining, and leisure and affordable workspaces. With 8 hectares of green spaces, including a 1.8-hectare park, the project’s social value is £371.1 million, contributing £7.9 million annually and £25.7 million in local spending to date.

 

Who is on the project? 

 

Studio Egret West,

 Hawkins/Brown, 

WSP, 

Hoare Lea, 

SLA, 

ACME, 

dRMM, 

Haworth Tompkins, 

Maccreanor Lavington, 

Serie Architects, 

Sheppard Robson, 

LCA, 

ZCD ARCHITECTS LTD, 

Kanda Consulting,

 DP9 Limited 

Cast Consultancy

 

Describe the context of this project, its neighbourhood and people. 

 

Earls Court is a rare opportunity to deliver a transformative piece of city in a world-renowned location with a history of wonder, showcase, and innovation. At their peak, the Exhibition Centres contributed circa £2 billion a year to the national economy and supported a rich ecosystem of businesses, bars, restaurants and hotels that came to characterise a certain cultural way of life in West London. It was the largest such venue in the capital and its demolition in 2015 was deeply felt by local people and Londoners. The site grew into a showground out of the singular nature of the railway infrastructure that shaped it. Today, it remains an outlier in the fabric of the city and a missing piece in the intriguing jigsaw of neighbourhoods that surround it; Gibbs Green and West Kensington Estates to the west, and the Georgian terraces of the Philbeach Gardens conservation area to the east. With this tapestry of characters comes a great diversity of people and households in surrounding wards. Like many inner London neighbourhoods, the local area is a mix of affluence and diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Nearby high streets at North End Road and Earls Court Road offer a variety of retail, food and hospitality offers. High-quality local green space is generally scarce in the local area, and much of it is limited to private clubs, cemeteries, and gated garden squares. The Earls Court masterplan will fill a circa 44-acre void, which has blighted this Central London community for a decade.

 

Please describe your approach to this future place and its mix of uses. How will it function as a vibrant place? How does it knit into, and serve the needs of, the wider area?

 

Four years of community engagement have shaped the masterplan for Earls Court and our vision reflects the community’s aspiration to restore Earls Court’s wonder, making it a place for nature, innovation, culture, and inclusive living. Four Place Pillars have guided our approach: Nature: A celebration of nature’s ability to connect and revive, the plan includes 20 acres of public realm and green spaces that foster connections for both people and biodiversity. A network of Exhibition Gardens and climate-resilient planting will culminate at The Table, a 4.5-acre urban park forming the centrepiece of the scheme and helping navigate the level changes. Innovation: Earls Court will become a hub for clean and climate tech, providing 2.5 million sq. ft. of workspace across Warwick Square, Empress Place, and West Kensington. Maker spaces, lab-enabled offices, and campus-style facilities will support academia, start-ups, and creatives. Affordable spaces will also be available for SMEs, charities, and community organisations. Culture: Reviving its legacy as a cultural hub, Earls Court will offer diverse venues, including a 600-seat performance space, recording studios, and pop-up locations. Events and arts will animate both indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring wide access to creativity. Neighbourhood: Around 4,000 zero-carbon homes, including affordable housing, will form an inclusive community for all stages of life. Seven distinctive areas will surround the central 4.5-acre park, which will include water features, gardens, and public squares, creating a vibrant and open neighbourhood.

 

What is the social and environmental impact of the project? For example, how will the carbon use and material impact of the development be mitigated? What is the sustainability strategy?

 

The Earls Court masterplan, guided by a Sustainable Development Charter, aims to become a global benchmark for sustainability, targeting beyond net-zero emissions. One of the UK’s largest zero-carbon heating and cooling networks will cut energy use by 30% across homes and businesses. Retaining existing buildings where feasible will minimise waste, while materials will prioritize low-carbon impact, with a goal of 20% reused or recycled content. The project embraces circularity, with features like the West London Line deck transformed into Table Park to enhance biodiversity and the repurposing of the TfL Train Shed into a cultural hub. Earls Court will offer low-carbon homes and workspaces designed to Passivhaus standards, incorporating shared air-source heat pumps to reduce CO2 emissions by over 45%. Air quality improvements include pollutant levels at least 10% below borough averages, electric-first construction, and EV charging at every parking space. A car-free boulevard will connect a new civic square, while the innovative Table Park will integrate pollution-reducing plantings and achieve an 85% Biodiversity Net Gain with over 1,000 new trees. A water-neutral management strategy will minimize runoff and optimise water reuse, showcased in The Cascades—a terraced landscape with natural water systems. The project’s predicted total social value is £371.1 million, with an annual social value impact of £7.9 million. To date, it has generated £25.7 million in local spending and 599 full-time jobs. Upon completion, it will support 12,000 jobs, boost the local economy by £100 million annually, and provide a vibrant, inclusive space for all.