A new Crossrail Station in North Kensington could unlock widespread regeneration in one of the capital’s most deprived neighbourhoods and lead to the delivery of up to 5,000 new homes and 2,000 jobs according to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson MP.
The Kensal Gasworks off Ladbroke Grove has long been proposed as a site for a possible Crossrail station but in 2013, following detailed analysis, the Mayor and Transport for London came to a view that it would not be feasible.
Since then, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has revised proposals for the station to ensure that it could unlock regeneration in the area along with the Crossrail and HS2 station that is scheduled to open at Old Oak in 2026. As a result, the Mayor has asked for further feasibility work to be carried out with the intention of resurrecting the scheme. This work will include examining how a new station would impact on the wider rail network, including integration with longer term capacity enhancements planned for the Great Western Mainline.
North Kensington is amongst the most deprived areas along the entire Crossrail route and has one of the highest levels of unemployment in the capital. The area around the proposed station has already been earmarked for regeneration and the Mayor believes that the new Crossrail station could lead to the delivery of 5,000 new homes and 2,000 jobs. It is estimated that without a new Crossrail station, only 1,500 homes could be built on the site.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson MP said: “We have seen across London how Crossrail is transforming vast swathes of land and acting as a catalyst for much needed new homes and jobs. By looking again at the options for this station we firmly believe that it could have a similar impact, triggering a much-needed fillip for this part of the capital. We are now delving into the detail to see just what may be possible in North Kensington to ensure it does not miss out on the much-needed regeneration Crossrail will bring.”
The Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Cllr Nicholas Paget-Brown said: “For a while it did seem our hopes for Portobello Crossrail had been dashed, but the Mayor, Network Rail, and we on the Council, are determined to achieve the optimum benefit from Crossrail. I am extremely grateful to the Mayor and to Network Rail for keeping channels open, and am delighted that it now looks as though Royal Borough residents can look forward to riding on the Elizabeth Line in the years ahead.”
Stretching from Reading and Heathrow in the west across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, Crossrail will change the way people travel around London and the South East and add much needed new capacity to London’s transport infrastructure. A fleet of brand new 200 metre long trains will run on the line, featuring nine walk-through carriages, air conditioning, CCTV and real-time travel information.
When the railway fully opens it will significantly increase the capital’s rail capacity, carrying over half a million passengers per day. Some 1.5 million people will have better access to the jobs and opportunities of London’s main employment centres, and an estimated £42bn will have been added to the economy of the United Kingdom.
Last month, the Mayor announced that Crossrail will be known as the Elizabeth line when the new service opens for passengers through central London in December 2018 in honour or Her Majesty the Queen.
Notes to editors
The proposed new station would be situated within the Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area.