Old Oak Common

Old Oak Common
Old Oak Common Railway Maintenance Depot
Old Oak Common
Old Oak Common shown within Greater London
Population	9,175
OS grid reference	TQ216823
London borough	Hammersmith & Fulham
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	NW10
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Hammersmith
London Assembly	West Central

Old Oak Common is an area of London between Harlesden and East Acton known for its railway depots, particularly Old Oak Common TMD. Further south lies an open area, Wormwood Scrubs Park, and Wormwood Scrubs prison. Willesden Junction station lies to the north of the area. In the mid nineteenth century it was a centre for pig farming.

History

Originally Old Oak Common was a stretch of land defined by what became the Harrow Road at its northern end, and its eastern edge was the northern source of Stamford Brook, forming a boundary with Wormwood Scrubs. By 1801^[1] the Paddington Canal had cut it in half, further reducing its size. With the coming of the railways, most of the common was lost and what remained became part of Wormwood Scrubs.

The Great Western Railway main lines from London Paddington: the Great Western Main Line (GWML) of 1838-1841 to Bristol Temple Meads railway station (passing through Slough, Reading and Swindon), and the 1903 New North Main Line (NNML) via Greenford to Northolt Junction, which is the start of the Great Western and Great Central Joint Railway line, split at Old Oak junction.

Railway use

As of 2014 the GWML has a regular passenger service; the NNML (now partially singled) is used by freight trains and empty coaching stock movements with just one weekday passenger train each way between Gerrards Cross and London Paddington via West Ruislip.^[2]

A station, to be known as 'Crossrail interchange', is proposed for interchange with the High Speed 2 line to Birmingham.

In summer 2011, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham launched a wide-ranging 'Park Royal City' plan for Old Oak Common, including the proposed station, and with light-rail lines to the surrounding areas.^[3]

Regeneration

In December 2013, The Independent reported that Antony Spencer, Founder of Stadium Capital Development, is to head up a £5 Billion regeneration scheme in the area, with partner Queens Park Rangers. The proposal includes new homes, office, retail outlets, and a proposed football stadium for QPR.^[4]

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation was established in 2015 to lead regeneration and planning work.

References