The plan to demolish Earls Court Exhibition Centre in West London was approved on Tuesday 20th November by members of Kensington and Chelsea’s planning committee, following on from Hammersmith and Fulham council’s approval on 12th September.

The scheme will see the creation of 7,500 homes set out within a new urban district containing four ‘villages’ and a high street. Space will be set aside for approximately 1,500 affordable offices, hotels, work space, education, cultural and community facilities and a five acre park. Developers Capital and Counties say that the plans will create thousands of jobs in the area; a proposition that is vigorously denied by campaigners against the redevelopment.

Councillor Paul Warrick, who chaired Kensington and Chelsea’s planning committee meeting, was quoted by the BBC as saying: "Redeveloping Earls Court to provide much-needed housing and other uses has been our policy for many years.

"We hope that the granting of this planning application will make Earls Court a more desirable place to live with less congestion and more opportunity for work, commerce and leisure." 

This is not a view shared by many in the exhibition industry or by local residents who are concerned about the impact on housing and businesses in the area that rely on the Centre for trade.

Campaigners against the development plan include the Earls Court Area Action Group, coordinated by Linda Wade, local councillor and chairwoman of the Nevern Square Conservation Residents’ Association, and Save Earls Court West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates, headed up by Jonathan Rosenberg.

Community organiser Jonathan Rosenberg remains adamant that they will be able to derail the development plan: “The decisions by Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea to go ahead with demolition complete the alignment of residents and businesses whose homes and jobs would be destroyed by this greedy scheme.

“The loss of so much trade and revenue to the economy, the demolition of such an iconic part of our heritage and the needless destruction of so many decent homes in favour of luxury flats damages the UK’s prospects for recovery.

“This scheme cannot be allowed because it is against the national interest; it will not happen because Council tenants, Kensington residents and the exhibitions and events industry are united to stop it.”

Campaigners Earls Court Area Action Group are reportedly planning to lobby Mayor Boris Johnson. The Mayor has the authority to turn down the permissions granted by both councils, but to be considered an online and paper petition is required with at least 10,000 signatures. 

The Association for Event Organisers, AEO, also launched a campaign in May 2011 in an attempt to halt the planning application under mounting concerns that the loss of Earls Court would cost the country billions in lost revenue. The Exhibition Centre, home to The Ideal Home Show, the Royal Tournament, top events, exhibitions and concerts attracts over 2.5 million visitors, 30,000 exhibitors and hundreds of events per year.

A study carried out on behalf of Earls Court and Olympia showed that the two venues together supported £258m of expenditure in their boroughs and over £1.25bn in the London region, and accounted for (directly and indirectly) over 1,000 jobs in the boroughs and around 12,500 in London.

If you are concerned about the damage these plans could cause to the area, the events industry or the wider economy, support AEO’s campaign by signing the epetition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36680

To get involved and support Save Earls Court West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates click here: http://westkengibbsgreen.wordpress.com/save-earls-court/

Lauren Cayless White,
Editor

KD VIII Elite High