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spotlight focus - hammersmith Spotlight Focus: It’s all happening in Hammersmith
From H&F Council’s revitalised Civic Campus and town hall to the huge re-development of Olympia, Hammersmith is booming. Here are some of the highlights for businesses and residents
Building work is progressing at the Civic Campus site in King Street as H&F Council reimagines it place in the lives of our residents, visitors and businesses.
The modern, vibrant mixed-use campus will be Britain’s most exciting new arts, cultural, business, government and community quarter. Residents have already moved into the surrounding flats.
The Civic Campus aims to boost the borough’s economy and always benefit local people. It aims to be far more than a collection of buildings – it will be a beautiful, environmentally positive and accessible new quarter where people can live, work, play and relax.
The new King Street campus will become a ‘go-to’ destination in Hammersmith, providing welcoming, comfortable, convenient and inclusive spaces for the community to work, learn and share ideas. This also includes a new five-screen cinema and Sky Park restaurant with panoramic views of the River Thames.
A new public square, restaurants and bars sit alongside a cinema while performance areas, gallery space and shops will create an iconic new community around Hammersmith’s revitalised Grade II-listed art deco Town Hall. It is an inclusive space that uses new technology – such as solar panels and ground source heat pumps – to provide low-carbon energy.
On the other side of the borough, developer Yoo Capital is leading the £1.3billion regeneration of Olympia to create a new destination for culture, education, entertainment, exhibitions, offices and eateries over 2.25million sqft.
On completion, Olympia will be home to a new 1,574-seat theatre operated by Trafalgar Entertainment Group, a 4,000-capacity music venue run by Anschutz Entertainment Group, new Hyatt Regency and CitizenM hotels and a school for the performing arts.
The site will also feature 2.5 acres of pedestrianised streets and public realm open to the local residents and visitors – 365 days a year.
A flyunder in the town centre
We’d like to see both the Hammersmith gyratory and flyover removed. They would be replaced with underground road links by their owners, Transport for London. The proposal was included in our latest draft Local Plan. Instead, the flyover and sections of the A4 would be replaced with a tunnel. This will free up land for development and reconnect
Seasonal day markets and pop-up pubs
The flyover has divided Hammersmith from the River Thames for more than 60 years. This plan will heal that divide by creating new affordable homes and offices, new green spaces and keep traffic flowing.
New public art
We recently installed new public artwork in two popular riverside underpasses in Hammersmith. It’s part of our work to beautify public spaces around the new Civic Campus development.
The installations – designed by local artists Yati Sharma and Lisa Pfeiffer – are set to brighten the journeys for residents and visitors between King Street and the riverside.
Businesses say yes
The Hammersmith Business Improvement District has recently been re-elected for the fifth time – with 92% of local businesses voting in favour.
The plan will now unlock more than £5million of investment in Hammersmith town centre over the next five years. This includes enhancing visitor and commuter safety and attracting more footfall.
This summer, H&F Council launched a new Pop-Up Piazza in Lyric Square. It hosted a month of open-air evening pop-ups with giant outdoor games, seating and deckchairs, live music and bars run by local pubs, restaurants and cafes.
The all-day seasonal market attracts more than 150 stallholders selling everything from hot food to artwork, jewellery and clothing. While shoppers are entertained with three live music stages, street entertainers and activities for children. Turnout averages 10,000-15,000 visitors across the day.
Made in H&F pop-up
Local entrepreneurs and creatives at H&F Council’s independent pop-up shop –Made in H&F – have racked up sales of £80,000 in the past 12 months.
Opening last November in Hammersmith Broadway shopping centre, Made in H&F has hosted more than 80 local artists, fashion designers, painters and jewellers who were not previously stocked on the high street.
Rain gardens
A popular green space in King Street is being extended with two new rain gardens – supported by local green investors and green-fingered residents from Hammersmith Community Gardens Association.
The pavement along King Street – between Beavor Lane and Standish Road – has had a facelift with new plant beds filled with native shrubs chosen to help boost biodiversity along the road.
The project is funded by £100,000 from H&F’s Green Investment scheme. Local resident investors have now helped us raise more than £3.25million for vital green improvements.
The Macbeth Centre
The home of adult learning in H&F –The Macbeth Centre – celebrated its 150th anniversary of providing education in Hammersmith.
The landmark birthday was with special events throughout the year, including an arts and crafts exhibition, a free open day and celebration of student success.
Heather Harvey-Wood heather.harvey-wood@cushwake.com 07917 423467
Alex Doyle alexander.doyle@cushwake.com 07826 537141
Patrick Rosso patrick.rosso@colliers.com 07825 571048
Stan Gibson stanley.gibson@colliers.com 07776 605378
YC Lau yc.lau@colliers.com 07551 383904
