Restoring Earls Court from an empty site back into a global destination, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for ECDC with Hawkins\Brown and Studio Egret West

The 16-hectare former Exhibition Centres site, inherited in 2019 with a history of failed delivery, is set to be transformed into a drastically new neighbourhood. With 4,000 homes, 8 hectares of public space, and 227,000 sq m of workspace, it will bring 12,000 jobs and three cultural venues. The Lost Estate immersive experience has already contributed £9.4 million to local spending. Meanwhile, community engagement through workshops has involved 532 attendees in shaping the masterplan.

Who is on the project team?

Masterplan and Architects - Hawkins\Brown, Studio Egret West 

Landscape Architect -  SLA

Architects -  Sheppard Robson with Serie Architects and dRMM, Haworth Tompkins and Maccreanor Lavington, ACME

Public Realm - ZCD Architects

Describe the context of this project and its neighbourhood and people?

ECDC acquired the 40-acre former Exhibition Centres site in 2019, inheriting a legacy of failed delivery. The site is an iconic piece of London’s cultural heritage, evoking strong feelings and memories from the communities who live and work locally. Putting existing communities at the forefront of consultation and master planning has been a key consideration from the outset. Following four years of collaboration and engagement, during which time ECDC listened and worked with local communities and businesses to evolve, a masterplan was submitted in September 2024, inviting people to discover wonder at a transformed Earls Court. The long empty site will be transformed as a new neighbourhood that will have c.4,000 new homes set within 20 acres of new public open and green space, while reinstating its position as a destination for ingenuity and excitement. It will be a showcase for clean and climate innovation and skills with 2.9 million sq ft of workspace, 12,000 jobs and three new anchor cultural venues. All supported by a zero-carbon energy network and a zero operational carbon target as the basis of the development.

Tell us what you did and how the project, event or installation enlivened the place in a creative way? 

When ECDC acquired the site, many buildings were in disrepair and had been vacant for years. ECDC chose to refurbish and temporarily occupy these buildings. In partnership with Projekt and Lowe Guardians, buildings along Empress Place were converted into affordable homes on one side, and 46 studios for local creatives on the other. The Lost Estate, based in the Old Mannequin Factory has been transformed into an immersive theatre and dining experience, adding £9.4m to local spending, creating 195 jobs and offering training and entertainment. Other activations include: The Greatest Showman Experience – An interactive event inspired by the film, drawing around 40,000 visitors to date for an immersive, circus-style experience. Padel Courts – In collaboration with Padel Social Club, five courts were built with social spaces to attract players and spectators, increasing visitors and local spend in the area. So far, there has been an additional expenditure of £1,209,656 in the local area. BBC Earth – A groundbreaking attraction featuring a 360-degree audiovisual experience narrated by Sir David Attenborough, educating 350,000 visitors on Earth’s biodiversity and generating £14.2m in local spending. Skills Hub - Delivered by a partnership between ECDC , Places for London and The Skills Centre,the Centre delivers training for hundreds of people a month.

Did the project make a positive social and environmental contribution? If it was a temporary intervention, is there a legacy plan? What happened to its tenants, users, materials and programming?

ECDC’s meanwhile activation projects, such as the BBC Earth Experience, and more recently the Greatest Showman Experience, have generated jobs, fostered local engagement, and attracted thousands of visitors, enhancing both social cohesion and economic resilience. The Community Fund has delivered £7.7 million in social value, supporting local groups and facilitating essential services. While our meanwhile activations are, as the name suggests, short-term, they reflect a snippet of what the community can expect when the site is developed, conveying our commitment to the long-term benefit of our community. Our masterplan commits to building approximately 4,000 zero-carbon homes, targeting 35% affordable, while creating 20 acres of public green spaces. This aligns with our vision of creating a climate-resilient, inclusive urban neighbourhood that is a global exemplar of sustainability. ECDC has laid out a legacy plan to transition some of our activations into permanent fixtures within the site. The Skills Centre, for example, will continue to offer training in green construction skills, ensuring the development benefits local residents well into the future. Similarly, partnerships with local charities, such as Solidarity Sports, have been set up for longevity, providing continuous support for the community. Through these efforts, ECDC is creating a lasting social and environmental legacy that extends well beyond temporary activations.