Register Now for "Affordable" Macfarlane Place

Macfarlane Place - opening 2024

Macfarlane Place, the new development on Wood Lane, is underway, following the year-long process of demolition of the old BBC car park.

Local people can now register their interest in the flats in Macfarlane Place, which starting in 2024 will offer 142 new one and two bedroom flats for rent and shared ownership, part of "Phase Two" of the development. 

The new flats will be managed by Peabody Trust and are described as “affordable” - meaning that they are being offered at below market rates. 

The new development will also offer a new route to TV Centre from Wood Lane, and a new pedestrian access to Hammersmith Park. 

BBC Car Park Demo Almost Complete

BBC Car Park Demolition - nearly there

The old BBC Car Park on Wood Lane is now almost demolished. 

Since June those residents living at the top of Macfarlane Rd have experienced considerable noise, disruption and even damage to their properties.  One local resident even had a ceiling collapse, caused by the vibrations from the demolition.

Demolition of the site is being carried out by Cantillon, overseen by developer Stanhope, whose work is at last nearing completion - only the ground and first floor remain to be ground down.  The old BBC car park is a massive reinforced concrete structure and demolition was always going to be a nasty business, but the end is in sight at last.

Wood Lane BBC Car Park Demolition - Latest

The old BBC Car Park on Wood Lane is being demolished, and a lot of locals aren't happy about it. In particular, those living at the top of Macfarlane Rd are experiencing considerable noise, disruption and damage. One local resident even had a ceiling collapse, caused by the vibrations from the demolition.

Demolition of the site is being carried out by Cantillon, overseen by developer Stanhope, who publish a regular newsletter (see left) to keep locals abreast of events. 

What should local residents do if their pictures fall off the walls and the ceilings cave in when demolition begins? The answer to the problem is not clear. The car park is a massive reinforced concrete structure and demolition was always going to be a nasty business. Should we seek to have it stopped? Or speeded up?

For now, it seems likely that all that most of us can do it grit our teeth - and hope the job gets done soon.

Demolition of BBC Car Park Begins

Scaffolding is up, and the long process of demolition of BBC Car Park on Wood Lane is underway. 

Work began in mid June 2021, but the work will take some time; the old car park is a massive structure filled with concrete ramps, and with deep foundations.  

It will take "at least 35 weeks" to remove it, so local residents in Macfarlane Rd are bracing themselves for many months of noise, mess and general disruption.

Demolition of BBC Car Park to Begin in June

The old BBC Car Park on Wood Lane is to be demolished; work will start on or around 11th June 2021. 

The old car park is a massive structure filled with concrete ramps, and with deep foundations.  It will take "at least 35 weeks" to remove it, so local residents in Macfarlane Rd must brace themselves for many months of noise, mess and general disruption.

The new building is to be constructed by Peabody Trust; it will be called Macfarlane Place, and comprises two buildings, including 142 "affordable" housing units. 

Troubadour White City Theatre To Open This Summer

Troubadour White City

There is good news for theatre lovers in White City.

A new pop-up 1,200 seat theatre will open this summer in the old BBC car park on Wood Lane.

The venue will be known as "Troubadour White City Theatre", and will be one of the largest entertainment spaces in London when completed. 

Helios Returns to TV Centre

Helios is back

The gilded bronze figure of Helios, personification of the sun in Greek Mythology, has returned to cast his golden light in the courtyard of the newly rebuilt Television Centre. 

Helios underwent a long period of repair and renovation, having stood in the rotunda at Television Centre since the former BBC headquarters opened in 1960. 

The Albertine is Dead...Long Live the Albertine

Albertine Wine Bar

Local chef Allegra McEvedy (co-founder of Leon) is to re-open the Albertine Wine Bar in mid-February.

The Albertine was a favourite BBC watering hole on Wood Lane - and one of the nicest boozers in our neighbourhood.

The Albertine is also a place that made history - it's where where the very first EastEnders script was written.

But for Allegra it's a very personal story, since the Albertine was founded by Allegra's Mum back in the late 1970s.  And for local residents, it will be great to see this lovely piece of Old Shepherd's Bush restored to its former glory.

Art Giveaway by White Noise

Soon-to-be-demolished BBC East Tower

White Noise, a website about creativity in White City and West London, is running an art giveaway for local people.

The pieces being given away are twelve sculptures created using textures and wood taken from the soon-to-be-demolished former BBC East Tower.

The East Tower will be demolished sometime this year as part of the White City TV Centre development.

TV Centre News

Helios Building - due for completion by end of 2017

Last week the developers of Television Centre on Wood Lane held a meeting for local residents - to give the community an update on the progress of this massive development. 

At the meeting were representatives from Mace (builders) and Stanhope (developers), including Mace community liaison representative Mike Russell. 

At the meeting, residents were told that the development is currently on track to complete Phase One by the end of next year, though at present Phase Two now has no fixed timetable for completion.  So, what's going on at TV Centre?

White City Place Public Consultation June 28, June 30 & July 2

BBC White City in 2013

The developers of White City Place (that's the old BBC White City site at the top of Wood Lane, next to the Westway) are hosting a series of public consultations on their plans to redevelop and refurbish the site.

There are to be three such events, to be held on on June 28, June 30 and July 2 at the Wood Lane Community Centre, and local residents are invited to come along, view the architectural plans on display, and offer their views.

Phase 2 of TV Centre Revealed at "Public Drop-in" on 27 April

TV centre - as proposed by Stanhope

Stanhope, the developers who are masterminding the huge new build taking place on the old BBC TV site on Wood Lane, are organising a "public drop-in" to view plans for Phase Two of TV Centre.

The drop-in will take place on Wednesday 27 April at 6pm in the new Television Centre Marketing Suite - the new building opposite Wood Lane Station on Wood Lane.

Shepherd's Bush's New Park

Proposed public park. 

Did you know we're getting a new public park in Shepherd's Bush? It's all part of the new Westfield development, and that of St James to the north - on the old M&S warehouse site east of Wood Lane.

The whole area is being redeveloped, and the price exacted by the Council from the developers was a new public park. It's not huge and, since it runs below the Hammersmith and City tube line, it will be noisy. But still - new green lungs for our very urban neighbourhood can't be a bad thing.

To imagine what it will look like, see the photo to the left.

TV Centre To Host Resident's Meeting Tuesday 22 March at 7pm

TV centre - as proposed by Stanhope

Stanhope, the developers who are currently masterminding the huge redevelopment taking place on the old BBC site on Wood Lane, are organising a briefing for the residents of Frithville Gardens and MacFarlane Road on Tuesday 22 March at 7pm in the East Tower, Television Centre.

Local residents are invited to come along and share their views on the new development.

What Will BBC White City Look Like?

To see what the new BBC White City development will look like, read this detailed article at HomesandProperty.com - which gives a full flavour of just how big this new project is.

Financed by Japanese investors and built by Stanhope, BBC White City will feature 5,000 new homes - the biggest new neighbourhood in London.

BBC TV Centre Demolished

BBC Tv Centre being demolished. Photo: Eddie Morgan

In this photo by local resident Eddie Morgan, taken a few days ago, you can see the old BBC TV buildings on Wood Lane being demolished.

But wait, you say - aren't they listed? Well, yes and no. The building to your left is listed - that's the donut shaped main building, which is subject to a preservation order and will be saved.

But much of the rest of the site is coming down, to be replaced by posh flats and offices and - so it is said - a Soho House club with a rooftop swimming pool.

Storeys - Pop-Up Street Food Comes To Wood Lane Today

Pop-Up Food in the old BBC Car Park

Storeys is a new pop-up street food market for the Bush, located (slightly implausibly) on the roof of the multi-storey car park of the old BBC TV centre on Wood Lane.

The car park is scheduled for demolition, but in the meantime we can munch on street food and admire the views.

BBC Says Farewell to Shepherd's Bush

BBC White City - no longer. Photo: Wikipedia

The BBC is leaving the Bush.  In 2013 the BBC vacated their historic home at TV Centre on Wood Lane, and now they have announced the sale of their Media Village site. The latter is the big shiny office block (see photo above) located at the north end of Wood Lane, right next to The Westway. The building is to be re-branded White City Place, and will become a brand new "commercial hub", that is to say a collection of offices and - you guessed it - luxury flats.