Stanhope and Mitsui Start "Phase 2" of Television Centre

Base of new 25 storey tower building at TV Centre

Developers Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan have announced the start of Phase Two of the development of Television Centre.

Among the new buildings is a huge new 25 storey tower located just south of the Broadcaster pub on Wood Lane (see image left). 

Phase Two comprises a total of 511 homes in four separate plots. 

New Ugly Buildings for Hammersmith Park

TV Centre - 1 Wood Crescent. Ugly or Fugly?

For sheer ugliness it would be hard to beat the new buildings being built by Stanhope and Mitsui in Hammersmith Park, just east of the children's playground. 

Faced in grey concrete in the brutalist style, this ugly construction towers over its surroundings, even blocking out the view from many of the expensive new flats in TV Centre. 

The new development is called "TV Centre - 1 Wood Crescent", and is described at the official website as "a 9 storey building with 111,765 sq ft of prime office space". That's an ugly office block to you and me.

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. 

Wood Lane Petrol Station Plans

Petrol Station on Wood Lane by Karl and Craig

According to a news item at WhiteNoise, the old Esso petrol station on Wood Lane is to be taken over by Elephant Magazine, who are to turn it into "a new space [to] act as a meeting place and hub for performance, discussion, film screenings, talks and workshops put together by our editors and curatorial team. A café , shop and outdoor garden area complete this."

So, in plain English then, the old petrol station will become an arts cafe.

White City Consultation Wed 25 April

White City is changing

White City Developers Stanhope are hosting a panel discussion on the future of White City on Wednesday 25 April at 6.30pm.

The panel will include representatives from Stanhope, our Council, Imperial College, and local residents' groups.

To sign up for the event, which is free, follow this link to the EventBrite page.  All are welcome.

Wood Lane Esso Station to Become Art Installation

former petrol station on Wood Lane. Google Maps

Anyone who drives in London knows how hard it can be to find a working petrol station these days. The old Esso station on Wood Lane closed a while back (see photo above), and site owners Transport For London (TFL) don't seem to have an immediate plan for what do with it. In the meantime, it's fast attracting graffiti and rubbish. So, White City developers Stanhope have agreed to lease the site so as to "improve the area’s appearance and eventually introduce pop up uses."  Stanhope is taking a three year lease (with a two –year break clause) from TFL, and has appointed artists Craig Redman and Karl Maier to "create an art installation" at the former petrol station.

Pergola on the Roof Seeks Planning Permission for 2017

Pergola on the Roof

Pergola on the Roof, the rooftop restaurant that has brought outdoor dining to the top of the old soon-to-be-demolished BBC carpark on Wood Lane, has applied for planning permission to re-open in the summer of 2017.

Good news then for outdoor diners and assorted hipsters, but perhaps less welcome for the residents of Macfarlane Road who haven't necessarily been thrilled by the noise and general disturbance. 

Television Centre Meeting on Thursday 12 January 2017 on Wood Lane

Helios Building - due for completion by end of 2017

The developers of Television Centre on Wood Lane are to hold a meeting for local residents to give the community an update on the progress of this massive development. 

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

Stanhope to Build Three New Buildings at White City Place

White City Place - as proposed

Stanhope Plc, Mitsui Fudosan UK and AIMCo have submitted planning applications to build three new buildings on the 17-acre Gateway Site at White City Place (formerly BBC White City).

The new buildings will be called Gateway West, Gateway Central and Gateway East.

According to Stanhope, the new Gateway buildings "will provide 100,043 sq m (1,075,000 sq ft) of space and create 8,000 new jobs".

So, no slowdown in the pace of growth and new development in our neighbourhood then.

TV Centre Meeting for Local Residents on Wednesday 25th May

3D Model of revamped Helios building

Stanhope, the developers who are currently masterminding the huge redevelopment curently underway on the old BBC site on Wood Lane, are organising a briefing for local residents on Wednesday 25th May at 7pm in the East Tower, Television Centre.

Anyone with an interest in how this development turns out is invited to come along, listen, and share their views.

TV Centre Phase Two - Good News or Bad News?

Proposed townhouses on Frithville Gardens. Nasty or nice?

On wednesday Stanhope, the developers of TV Centre, hosted a "public drop-in" to view plans for Phase Two of their site, currently under construction on Wood Lane.

On display were detailed plans for the proposed townhouses at the rear of Frithville Gardens, and also the new flats and shops which will replace the existing multi-storey car park site on Wood Lane.

So, how do the plans look? Should us local residents welcome the new designs, or should we urge the developers to go back to the drawing board?

Pergola on the Roof is Coming to TV Centre

Pergola on the roof

Last summer White City played host to Storeys, a pop-up food market which occupied the rooftop of the old BBC Car Park on Wood Lane, part of Stanhope's huge new TV Centre development.

This summer it's time for something slightly less informal - Pergola on the Roof will bring four new restaurants, serving customers under a "pop-up pergola" which will be installed on the roof of the car park.

Hammersmith Park - TV Centre Design Winners Announced

 Winner - Michelle Fareta with her Olympics and QPR theme

Stanhope, the developer that is masterminding the redevelopment of the old BBC site on Wood Lane, have announced the three winners of their "school hoarding competition", launched in January this year.

The competition was to find "exciting designs from local school children for the Television Centre hoarding that runs alongside Hammersmith Park".

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.

Pop-Up "Silent Cinema" Comes to Television Centre This Summer

This summer White City developers Stanhope are hosting a pop-up "silent cinema" on the roof of the old car park on Wood Lane. Silent Cinema will run for six weeks, run by Electric Cinema (of Notting Hill and Shoreditch fame), and will be managed by Incipio Events.

But don't worry, "silent cinema" doesn't mean there is no sound; it just means there is no noise to disturb the neighbours.  Audience members will be provided with noise cancelling headphones to ensure there is no disturbance to local residents.

Silent Cinema will open to the public Wednesday to Sunday for six weeks between 22 June and 1 August 2016; on Mondays and Tuesdays there will be private viewings only.  Films will end no later than 11.30pm.

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.

Meeting to Discuss TV Centre Development on Wednesday 2 December at 7pm

TV Centre - how it will look

Stanhope PLC, the developer who is re-developing TV Centre on Wood Lane, is organising a local neighbourhood meeting on Wednesday 2 December at 7pm. 

If you have questions about the future of this massive new development, which will change the face of our neighbourhood, or about nearby Hammersmith Park, then come along and make your voice heard.

For example, how do you feel about the massive skyscraper on screen left, which looks like it will replace the current car park structure on Wood Lane?