Earls Court Revamp Could Create 1,500 Construction Jobs

New plans for a 77 acre site in west London would see the Earls Court Exhibition Centre bulldozed to create a ‘high street’ and four ‘villages’. Whilst a planning application has yet to be submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham Council, it is hoped that the redevelopment will create over a thousand construction jobs in London.

Redevelopment would begin in 2012

The Earls Court centre is an iconic venue and will host the volleyball competition at the 2012 Olympic Games. It has also hosted a range of high profile exhibitions and rock concerts by artists as varied as Madonna and Roger Waters.

If planning consent is given, the centre would be demolished after the 2012 Games. Capital and Counties, the developers, say their plans will create 7,500 new homes as well as 12,000 permanent jobs. 1,500 construction jobs will also be created in the capital.

Site would create lots of local construction jobs

The site is jointly owned by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Transport for London and EC&O. The BBC reports that ‘Gary Yardley, on behalf of EC&O, said the plan envisaged thousands of "much-needed new homes and jobs and acres of new green space for the local community to enjoy". He said they had worked closely with the community for more than a year and their feedback had had a "great influence" on the plans.’

A spokesman for the council said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to double the number of affordable homes in the area... and bring thousands of new jobs and new community facilities such as schools, healthcare centres and better open spaces."