Old Oak Common
{{about|the area of London|the ex-GWR locomotive depot|Old Oak Common TMD|the proposed HS2-Crossrail interchange station|Old Oak Common railway station|the part of Wormwood Scrubs Park sometimes called Old Oak Common|Wormwood Scrubs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{infobox UK place
| country = England
| map_type = Greater London
| region = London
| population = 9,175
| official_name = Old Oak Common
| london_borough = Hammersmith and Fulham
| constituency_westminster = Ealing Central and Acton
| post_town = LONDON
| postcode_district = NW10
| postcode_area = NW
| dial_code = 020
| static_image_name = Old Oak Common Railway Maintenance Depot - geograph.org.uk - 550702.jpg
| static_image_width = 240px
| static_image_caption = Old Oak Common Railway Maintenance Depot
| os_grid_reference = TQ216823
| coordinates = {{coord|51.5244|-0.2421|display=inline,title}}
}}
Old Oak Common is a semi-industrial area of London, between Harlesden and Acton.{{Cite web |title=Sports stadium could be catalyst for transformation of Old Oak Common {{!}} London City Hall |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/stadium-could-help-create-jobs-and-homes |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=www.london.gov.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Common ground |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/infrastructure/new-railways/crossrail/common-ground |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=www.railmagazine.com |language=en}} The area is traditionally known for its railway depots, particularly Old Oak Common TMD which was decommissioned in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Decommissioning begins at Old Oak Common to make way for HS2 Rail Interchange |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03/decommissioning-begins-at-old-oak-common-to-make-way-for-hs2-rail-interchange.html |website=RailAdvent}} Together with neighbouring Park Royal, the area is intended to become the UK's largest regeneration scheme.{{cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/organisations-we-work/old-oak-and-park-royal-development-corporation-opdc/about-opdc/opd-15|title=About Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation|publisher=Greater London Assembly|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015113041/https://www.london.gov.uk//about-us/organisations-we-work/old-oak-and-park-royal-development-corporation-opdc/about-opdc/opd-15|url-status=dead}}
Old Oak Common has been in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham since 1994.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/1346/made|title=The Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993 |website=UK Government|date=1993|access-date=29 October 2024}} Further south lies an open area, Wormwood Scrubs Park, and Wormwood Scrubs prison. To the north it is bounded by the Grand Union Canal and across it lies Willesden Junction station.
History
Originally, Old Oak Common was a stretch of land defined by what became the Harrow Road at its northern end, and its eastern edge was the northern source of Stamford Brook, forming a boundary with Wormwood Scrubs. By 1801, the Paddington Canal had cut it in half, further reducing its size.{{cite web|url=http://www.grandunioncanal.co.uk/Paddington-Canal.html|title=Old Oak Common to Bulls Bridge|publisher=Grand Union Canal| access-date=25 April 2023}}
The Great Western Railway's Great Western Main Line (GWML) of 1838–1841 from London Paddington to Bristol and the 1903 Acton-Northolt line to the Great Western and Great Central Joint Railway at Northolt divided at Old Oak junction.{{cite web|url=https://learninglegacy.crossrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/C254-OOC-XSU10-Archaeological-Works-at-Old-Oak-Common-Fieldwork-report.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425173143/https://learninglegacy.crossrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/C254-OOC-XSU10-Archaeological-Works-at-Old-Oak-Common-Fieldwork-report.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 April 2023|page=9|title=Archaeological Works at Old Oak Common Depot, London NW10 XSU10|publisher=CrossRail|access-date=25 April 2023}}
Before 1965, Old Oak Common formed part of the Municipal Borough of Acton, and the area thus became part of the London Borough of Ealing that year. Following a revision of municipal boundaries in 1994, Old Oak Common was transferred from Ealing to Hammersmith and Fulham.
The partially singled Acton-Northolt line closed in December 2018 to allow for the construction of Old Oak Common railway station, which will offer interchange between GWML trains, the Elizabeth line and the High Speed 2 (HS2) line heading north. Additional rail interchanges may be provided with the construction of two new London Overground stations, {{rws|Hythe Road}} on the West London line and Old Oak Common Lane on the North London line.{{cite news|title=First glimpse of how two new London Overground stations could look|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/first-glimpse-of-how-two-new-london-overground-stations-could-look-a3685641.html?shell=false|access-date=20 November 2017|work=Evening Standard}}{{cite web|title=Have your say on two potential new London Overground stations at Old Oak|url=https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/london-overground/old-oak-common/?cid=old-oak-common|website=TfL Consultation Hub|access-date=20 November 2017|language=en}}
In summer 2011, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham launched a wide-ranging 'Park Royal City' plan for Old Oak Common, including the proposed station, and with light-rail lines to the surrounding areas.
{{cite web |url=http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News/YouTube_clip_reveals_Park_Royal_City_vision.asp |title=Launch of 'Park Royal City' |access-date=14 October 2011 |publisher=London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017013735/http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News/YouTube_clip_reveals_Park_Royal_City_vision.asp |archive-date=17 October 2011 |df=dmy-all }}
Regeneration
In December 2013, The Independent reported that Antony Spencer, founder of Stadium Capital Development, was to head up a £5 billion regeneration scheme in the area, with partner Queens Park Rangers. The proposal included new homes, office, retail outlets, and a proposed football stadium for QPR.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/qpr-club-announce-exciting-plans-new-40-000-seat-stadium-old-oak-cement-their-place-west-london-9002317.html|title=QPR: Club announce 'exciting' plans for a new 40,000-seat stadium in|date=14 December 2013|website=The Independent}} The planning application was rejected.{{cite news|url= https://www.propertyinvestortoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2019/9/london-regeneration-old-oak-common-a-scheme-in-trouble |title=London regeneration: Old Oak Common, a scheme in trouble?|date=11 September 2019|newspaper=Property Investor Today|access-date=25 April 2022}}
The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation was established in 2015 to lead regeneration and planning work for an area covering Old Oak Common and much of the Park Royal area. The combined redevelopment area is envisaged to provide 65,000 new jobs and 25,000 new homes.{{cite web|publisher=From GLA website|title=Vision for the area|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/organisations-we-work/old-oak-and-park-royal-development-corporation-opdc/about-opdc/opdc-vision-and-mission|access-date=15 October 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015111242/https://www.london.gov.uk//about-us/organisations-we-work/old-oak-and-park-royal-development-corporation-opdc/about-opdc/opdc-vision-and-mission|url-status=dead}} The scale of the developments have led to Park Royal and Old Oak Common being described as a potential "Canary Wharf of West London".{{Cite web |last=Prynn |first=Jonathan |date=27 January 2016 |title='Famous institution' will move to Old Oak Common culture zone |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/famous-institution-will-move-to-old-oak-common-culture-zone-a3166166.html |website=www.standard.co.uk}}{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Barney |date=27 January 2015 |title=Plans to regenerate London's Old Oak Common clear hurdle |newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a73f05a6-a19f-11e4-bd03-00144feab7de}}
The engineering plans were revealed in 2018 showing a station at Old Oak Common for HS2, the high speed line running from London to Birmingham. Passengers using HS2 will be able to disembark at Old Oak Common and interchange with the Elizabeth line, Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railway services. The station will have a capacity for around 100 million passengers, rivalling London Waterloo in Central London.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/archive/engineering-plans-for-hs2-old-oak-common-station-revealed-03-04-2018/|title=Engineering plans for HS2 Old Oak Common station revealed|first=Katherine|last=Smale|date=3 April 2018}}
Queens Park Rangers F.C. planned to build a new stadium with 40,000 capacity for its club in the regeneration area, but these plans have been hampered.{{Cite web |last=lucymair |date=2013-12-13 |title=Queens Park Rangers unveil new football stadium plans for Old Oak Common |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/uncategorised/qpr-unveil-new-football-stadium-plans-13-12-2013/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Construction News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Clark2014-12-02T08:00:00+00:00 |first=Tim |title=QPR's Old Oak Common plans scuppered by landowner |url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/qprs-old-oak-common-plans-scuppered-by-landowner/5072450.article |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Building |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{LB Hammersmith & Fulham}}
{{Parks and open spaces in London}}
Category:Districts of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham