EdCity, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for Ark and Hammersmith and Fulham Council with tp bennett, BD Landscape, Mason Navarro Pledge, Vengrove and Bowmer + Kirkland

EdCity, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for Ark and Hammersmith and Fulham Council with tp bennett, BD Landscape, Mason Navarro Pledge, Vengrove and Bowmer + Kirkland

EdCity, a non-profit scheme by Hammersmith and Fulham Council and the education charity Ark, provides a model for inclusive growth within an innovation cluster. This ambitious masterplan transforms a former school site into a new civic hub designed to connect the White City Estate with opportunities in the growing White City Innovation District, home to Imperial College, Television Centre, and Westfield.

Describe the social and environmental context of this project, its neighbourhood and people. What is the purpose of the building? How does this building make an impact in its community?

The development replaces the existing primary school and expands the nursery while adding a state-of-the-art youth zone, an adult education hub, a ten-storey office block (1EdCity), and 132 affordable homes. A central pedestrian boulevard creates a safe community space and better links to amenities and public transport.
 
 Despite market challenges, stakeholders have remained committed to social impact. Ark delivered a new primary school and its new HQ, 1EdCity, which serves as a national centre of excellence for education innovation. Over half of 1EdCity is rented to educational charities and start-ups, with the remainder marketed commercially to provide an endowment for Ark’s future.
 
 HF delivered the affordable homes. The first phase of social rented flats above the school is fully occupied, benefiting many older local residents with improved accessibility. The remaining homes are being marketed through HF’s Home Buy scheme, ensuring the project delivers significant social value to the local community.

What makes this place thrive? How does the community come together? What makes this a great place to live, work, play, visit or learn?

EdCity offers pathways to learning and opportunities for the community at every age and stage of life: 
 
 • Harmony Nursery offers affordable childcare for working families from 6 months of age, and will soon move into their new expanded facilities, enabled by a discounted lease from HF. 
 
 • Ark White City Primary School: before joining the Ark network, the primary school, then known as Canberra Primary, had been placed in special measures in 2008. Within 3 years the school was rated “Good” in 2016. With their new state-of-the-art facilities, the school can provide the best possible opportunities for children in White City.
 
 • WEST Youth Zone provides safe and inspiring environment for children to socialise and engage in over 30 different activities after-school, on weekends and during holidays. They also host a weekly free Babyzone drop-in activity for families to bring babies and toddlers to play and gain support.
 
 • H&F’s new Adult Learning and Skills Hub are due to launch in early January 2026, providing training for STEM jobs within the White City Innovation District, in partnership with local institutions such as Imperial College and Hammersmith Hospital.
 
 • 1EdCity is a national hub for mission-aligned organisations working to improve children’s lives through education. The space offers a rich programme of thought-leadership and networking events, affordable and flexible workspace, and a heavily discounted flex membership programme (£50/year) which enables local grassroots groups such as W12 Together and Young Hammersmith Fulham to access outstanding facilities.

Please share any data or evidence about the social, economic and environmental performance of this place, or any relevant figures such as footfall, visitors, engagement metrics, residents, etc. 

White City Context: 
 
 • 63% of residents classed as ‘income deprived’
 
 • Household income 22% below H&F average
 
 • Highest proportion of households living in overcrowded accommodation in H&F
 
 • Lowest proportion of residents working in professional and tech occupations
 
 
 
 Scheme Impacts:
 
 • £150 million investment entirely from philanthropic and public sources 
 
 Commercial space for at least 1,000 jobs. 
 
 • £96m Social Value generated. £38 million local spend (within 20 miles).
 
 Construction: 
 
 • 320 local workers employed on the construction of the scheme. -4% of entire workforce from within H&F. 
 
 • 42 apprentices, T-level and work experience students on site. 
 
 • 246 hours of volunteering in local schools.
 
 Housing: 
 
 • 132 genuinely affordable homes, with a mix of social rented, affordable rented and shared ownership. 
 
 • 15 homes prioritised for key workers.
 
 WEST Youth Zone: 
 
 • 3,398 members. 
 
 • Over 1,000 visits per week. 
 
 • 42,000 hours of youth work. 
 
 • 68% of members are from 30% most deprived postcodes. 
 
 • 75% from ethnic minority backgrounds.
 
 Ark White City Primary: 
 
 • 283 pupils of which 59% are eligible for free school meals (29% across H&F). 
 
 • Free breakfast club. 
 
 • Chromebook laptop for each child from Year 3. 
 
 • 71% of students achieved or exceeded the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (60% national average).
 
 1EdCity: 
 
 • 80,000 children reached directly through occupiers Ark and Lift Schools. 
 
 • 850,000 children reached through teacher training and curriculum programmes. 
 
 • 7 flex tenants and 51 member organisation