The WLA infrastructure programme supports boroughs in carrying out their day-to-day planning functions, specifically local plan-making. It also works with boroughs at a strategic level to identify and deliver west London’s strategic infrastructure to support sub-regional growth. This includes everything from physical and social, to green and digital infrastructure.
We are also working with TfL and member boroughs to put together the business case for the West London Orbital, a new rail service using existing, underused rail lines to link key growth areas in west London.
For more information or to get in touch about infrastructure, please contact Anthony McNamara, West Trans Manager on McNamaraA@ealing.gov.uk
Programme Aims
Spatial
Planning
To promote good strategic spatial planning in West London and help the boroughs provide high quality, value for money planning services. To help ensure a robust and comprehensive evidence base for local plan-making by West London planning authorities.
West London
Orbital
To support development of the case for, and implementation of, the West London Orbital Overground rail project in conjunction with Transport for London, West London boroughs, Network Rail and other stakeholders.
Strategic
Infrastructure
To establish West London’s strategic infrastructure needs to support planned growth sustainably and to help find ways of funding and delivering its delivery.
Core Projects
The West London Orbital
The West London Alliance is working with the Mayor, Transport for London and Network Rail to take forward proposals for a new West London Orbital (WLO) rail service on existing, underused rail lines linking key growth areas in West London and giving people access to jobs and other opportunities in this fast-growing part of London. The WLO was identified as a priority by the WLA in 2016 to help underpin West London’s growth by connecting regeneration areas.
The line would run from Hounslow and Kew Bridge towards Hendon and West Hampstead in the north, with stations at Brent Cross West, Cricklewood, Neasden, Harlesden, Old Oak, Acton Central, South Acton, Lionel Road (serving the new Brentford Community Stadium), Brentford, Syon Lane and Isleworth. Part of the route would use the Dudding Hill line currently used for freight services only.
The WLO will:
- Help bring forward 8,800-29,300 new homes and workspace for 23,000 new jobs
- Reduce journey times for public transport journeys across west and north-west London
- Ease crowding on congested rail and Tube lines
- Give people much-needed transport choices that give real alternatives to travelling by car, encouraging a shift to more sustainable options which will help improve air quality.
Documents relating to the WLO’s progress including feasibility studies, business case and Mayor’s transport strategy can be found in our document library.
One Public Estate: Transforming the way we use Public Land and Property
One Public Estate (OPE) is a constantly evolving, innovative set of approaches and solutions to the challenge of how to make the best use of surplus, under-occupied or inefficient sites and built assets held by Whitehall Hall, City Hall and Town Halls. The scheme is a formal collaboration between the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association (LGA) formed in 2013-14. Now in its eighth year of operation and concomitant funding rounds, the key tenets of the programme typically involve:
- Mapping the public estate – knowing who owns what in a given locality and identifying assets held is vital to identifying the opportunities to using them in a more efficient customer-focused way.
- Forming a partnership – Establishing a strong governance mechanism with representation across the public sector to drive delivery, typically through a multi-disciplinary programme board.
- Creating a shared vision – Engaging with partner bodies and stakeholders to jointly develop a vision that meets the needs of local communities and satisfies the requirements of the land- owning institutions.
- Securing funding – The availability of revenue funding to support the early stages of project activity or dedicated programme management capacity is fundamental factor in bringing partners to the table and gives them confidence to support projects.
The country’s need for new housing, in the right places and at the right price, continues to be a priority. Accordingly, OPE puts a special emphasis on freeing-up land for house building, along with other objectives; including generating significant capital receipts, creating net new jobs and promoting greater efficiency and innovation in the delivery of public-facing services.
To date West London Alliance Boroughs have been successful in bidding for grants and loans though Rounds 6, 7 and 8 of the programme, grouped under the following thematic headings.
West London Waste Planning
In 2015 six west London Boroughs (Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames) along with the Old Oak Common and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) published a Joint Waste Plan for the future management of waste produced in their areas.
The West London Waste Plan (WLWP) plans for all waste in the plan area up to 2031. The Plan contains policy to promote sustainable waste management, prioritising waste reduction, recycling and composting. It does this by identifying suitable sites for development of new waste facilities and safeguarding all existing waste sites within west London.
Governance
The spatial planning activity is overseen by the WLA Chief Planners’ and Planning Policy Officers’ groups. Work on the WLO and strategic infrastructure is overseen by the Growth Board.
Programme partners
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Team and Governance
The Vision for Growth is led by the West London Economic Prosperity Board, a cross-party, joint committee consisting of the leaders of six West London Alliance member boroughs – Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow and Hounslow. The Board provides direction to the West London Growth Directors who have responsibility for delivering the Vision for Growth at both a strategic and an operational level, in partnership with the business community, investors, London and national government.