Illustrative view of the Ed City youth zone
An innovative partnership between Hammersmith & Fulham Council and education charity Ark has created 'EdCity' – a ground-breaking new approach to providing education locally.
The £150m development will bring a new state-of-the art education hub and youth centre to White City, as well as 132 new genuinely affordable homes for local people, and 1,000 new jobs. All at no additional cost to the taxpayer.
The 'EdCity' project reflects Hammersmith & Fulham Council's commitment to providing high-quality education facilities as well as creating affordable homes and jobs for local people.
The development – being constructed by Bowmer + Kirkland – will ensure residents from all backgrounds and ages get the education and training they need to thrive in the jobs of the future. This will help local people benefit from the new jobs and career opportunities coming to H&F due to our pioneering Industrial Strategy.
The 132 new council-owned genuinely affordable homes for local people will be built around a new landscaped public square, with a pedestrian and cycle route directly linking residential areas to the redeveloped White City business and transport hubs.
Cllr Alex Sanderson, H&F Cabinet Member for Children and Education, visited the site last week to review progress. "EdCity is an exciting project that reflects our ambitions to equip our residents with the skills needed for the jobs of the future as part of our Industrial Strategy," she said. "From the new school buildings to the affordable homes, this scheme will be a major asset for the local community.
"I'm really excited to see the construction work coming along so well. The improvements to local public areas and the job opportunities that the scheme will create will be a benefit for local residents for years to come."
About the scheme
The EdCity development in White City will create:
- a new building for Ark White City Primary Academy with state-of-the-art IT and modern classrooms, and access to a range of sports and performing arts facilities
- a new building for Harmony Nursery to increase capacity to 75 children
- a new OnSide Youth Zone providing sporting, creative and social activities and opportunities for local young people
- an expanded H&F Adult Learning and Skills Centre providing training and life-long learning opportunities for local residents
- a new 100,000sqft office space for up to 1,000 jobs and a new permanent home for Ark and other organisations and businesses.
The costs of construction will be funded through the commercial rents charged for office and commercial space, as well as through grant funding and income from the new homes.
For more details visit the EdCity website.
Two phases
The White City scheme is being undertaken in two phases.
The new school, OnSide Youth Zone and office space is scheduled to open in the second half of 2023, as are some of the new affordable homes. The rest of the scheme is due in 2025.
We know that people are struggling to afford homes locally. That's why we're set to deliver more than 3,000 new affordable homes across H&F over the next four years.
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