Objectives of the scheme:

The investment in this project seeks to achieve a number of objectives for Hammersmith, as well as making financial sense for residents across the entire borough.

The overall vision is to create a new focal point for Hammersmith town centre, drawing people down King Street and reinstating the link between Hammersmith and the river with a new safe, step free footbridge across the A4.

A historic view of Hammersmith Town Hall with the original steps leading up to the entrance

Key benefits include:

  • Removal of the 1960s extension to the Town Hall: frequently voted the ugliest building in the borough, the Town Hall extension is in need of extensive and expensive refurbishment. By consolidating its workforce in the new offices which will be created as part of the scheme, the Council can demolish the old extension and save taxpayers money as well as avoiding the expensive repairs required just to make the existing extension last a few more years.
  • Giving the listed Town Hall the setting it deserves: demolishing the extension will open up views of the original Grade II listed Town Hall and also allow the steps which originally led up to the Town Hall to be reinstated.
  • Ensuring the Town Hall remains in civic use: across the country town halls are being sold off to pay for new purpose built council/civic offices elsewhere. This scheme ensures that the Town Hall will remain at the heart of Hammersmith and Fulham's civic life.
  • A new route across the A4: the striking new public footbridge across the Great West Road will reconnect Hammersmith to Furnival Gardens and the river and provide safe, step-free, open air access from the town centre to the waterfront.
  • New community facilities: a new community sized supermarket and a range of new restaurants and other shops, alongside a Council 'One Stop Shop', will add vitality to the area.
  • Strengthening local businesses: the investment will revitalise this part of the town centre, drive footfall to local businesses and encourage further investment.
  • Creating a series of new public spaces: the new public square and pedestrian footbridge over the A4 will form a vibrant, dynamic, focal point for the town centre, drawing people down King Street and complementing Lyric Square. The public square will be a new focal point for the community, capable of hosting various events throughout the year including an outdoor cinema in the summer and Christmas markets and ice rinks.

    Click on the image above to enlarge

    Patricia Bench, Development Director of Hammersmith London commented
    "We encourage investment into Hammersmith and welcome the prospect of a new public space to meet the needs of the 21st century high street. By 2020, high streets will no longer be just about shopping and this new investment will help facilitate bespoke events and festivals that will keep Hammersmith vibrant for years to come"

Economic Benefits;

The King Street Regeneration will deliver many benefits for Hammersmith throughout construction and once completed, through job creation and increased economic activity.

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This regeneration project will create:

  • A net increase of 164 jobs in the retail and leisure sector would be created through the proposed supermarket and commercial uses on either side of the new Public Square; 105 full time construction jobs.
  • A £7.05m increase in household spending, much of which would be expected to be in the borough, would be generated through the provision of 290 new homes;
  • An increase in the financial turnover of Hammersmith Town Centre by 5.7%, benefiting many local businesses;
  • A saving to the taxpayer of the £18m needed to refurbish the 1960s Town Hall Extension by providing a new Council office building within the scheme, which the Council can use to protect services instead.