1,000 signatures reached
To: Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
Build the world's greenest venue on the site of the Earls Court Masterplan, London.
We call upon the Mayor of London to support the building of the world’s greenest venue on the site of the Earls Court Masterplan. An international architecture competition should be launched to design a multi-purpose, green venue featuring exhibitions, music, cultural and sporting events. Tendering and procurement processes should be open and transparent with materials sourced in an environmentally, socially just and sustainable way.
Why is this important?
Transport for London’s (TfL) commercial development wing formed a joint venture with Capital & Counties Properties PLC to redevelop the TfL-owned site of the now-demolished Earls Court Exhibition Centre, which forms a large part of the scheme known as the Earls Court Masterplan. Mayor Khan is Chair of Transport for London.
Recent press reports range from an enhanced Earls Court Masterplan being brought forward to part of it being sold to a Saudi Arabian investment and property firm. This uncertainty over the future of the site does not help residents and businesses.
The West Kensington and Gibbs Green housing estates are threatened with demolition as is the Lillie Bridge depot – all for luxury flats.
The destruction of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre has led to the loss of 30% of London’s and 16% of the UK’s vital exhibition space and over £1bn annually to the local and national economy.
Londoners were promised that "Earl’s Court will remain the location for a large convention centre or exhibition function" in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s 2015 Consolidated Local Plan. Instead permission was granted last year by the Royal Borough for a 644 sq m cultural venue, like a souped up Starbucks on the site of the iconic Exhibition Centre which was 40,000 sq m!
There is no step-free access from the Earl's Court tube station to the development to help those with disabilities. There is no significant destination venue in the current Earls Court Masterplan. When the Earls Court Masterplan is revised, we ask that Mayor Khan supports building the world’s greenest venue which will generate overnight stays and support the night-time economy. Profits from the venue should be used to improve London's transport network and to benefit the common good.
