Old Oak Masterplan

With the aim to create a high-density residential quarter, including 9,000 new and affordable homes, new urban centres with schools, retail, and commercial units all served by HS2 and the Elizabeth Line, we are providing strategic direction to ensure environmental resilience and social sustainability across the project.

Technical expertise has been integrated to investigate sustainable design and infrastructure solutions for the emerging masterplan, which includes towers exceeding 30 storeys, while addressing limited local capacity for water supply and discharge and the need to decarbonise construction to mitigate the climate emergency. The project scope encompasses developing holistic sustainability frameworks, strategic policy development, and comprehensive technical feasibility studies that support masterplan evolution.

Initial work included developing a holistic sustainability framework for the whole development, drawing on ideas from Kate Rowarth’s Doughnut Economics to address social and environmental sustainability throughout project delivery. This framework established high-level targets, KPIs and performance standards covering energy, carbon, health and wellbeing, social cohesion, and green and blue infrastructure.

Direct collaboration with the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) sustainability working group produced the OPDC Sustainability Charter, a strategic document which establishes a vision for regeneration that creates lasting social, environmental, and economic value. The Charter also provides policy foundation for sustainable development across the broader regeneration zone.

Sustainable infrastructure & implementation strategy

Continuing engagement with the design and client team embeds holistic sustainability throughout all aspects of the scheme as it evolves. A comprehensive Sustainability Strategy sits alongside the emerging design proposals, ensuring environmental considerations inform spatial planning decisions.

Technical studies support masterplan development and test the feasibility of meeting sustainability targets at anticipated capacities. The Integrated Water Management Strategy delivers water efficiency, water recycling and flood resilience, subsequently embedded into landscape proposals. This strategy addresses the critical challenge of limited local water infrastructure capacity while creating resilient systems that support high-density development.

Technical work encompasses energy, carbon, water, utilities, waste, circular economy, and environmental design, particularly important as the project faces challenges related to tall building delivery. Unique opportunities are captured through strategic connections with neighbouring Park Royal – London’s largest industrial hub – enabling symbiosis on materials, supply chain, and community resources.

Close collaboration with the client team addresses cost implications of meeting requirements set out in the sustainability framework. This collaborative approach ensures ambitious sustainability targets remain economically viable while delivering transformative regeneration outcomes for west London.