White City Development
The White City retail development is situated in Shepherds Bush, West London. The name “White City” dates back 1908 when the Franco-British Trade Exhibition was held in the area. At the same time an Olympic stadium was constructed for the 1908 Olympics, at the time it was the largest stadium in the world, Wood Lane station was also constructed at this time, to extend London’s railway links to this area. The area gradually went into decline, the exhibition area and the stadium were demolished and Wood Lane Station became derelict when the new White City tube station was constructed.
Work began on the White City development in 2002 with the excavation and removal of thousands of tonnes of earth to reduce the ground level and remove identified areas of contamination. While the area was largely derelict it was used in part by both the BBC and London Underground, who operated a transport depot on the site associated with the central line tube which passes beneath the site. London Underground agreed to move the depot and associated railway sidings, they are also building two new stations to serve the Central and Hammersmith and City tube lines to improve transport links to the new development.
When completed, the White City development will be the largest shopping development in Europe and comprise the following:
- A large shopping mall with up to 270 stores
- The “Wintergarden” area of restaurants and cafés which will also host seasonal events
- Up to 20 screen cinema complex with rooftop leisure terrace
- Affordable housing and nature area
- Two transport interchanges to service buses, railway, tube and taxis. White City is scheduled for completion in March 2008.
