Leading industry experts have been appointed by Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) to join the independent OPDC Place Review Group. The new panel member appointments follow an open invitation for applications and aim to strengthen the expertise the panel provides to OPDC as the Mayoral Development Corporation continue to deliver the UK’s largest regeneration project.

OPDC is leading the development and regeneration of Old Oak and Park Royal, which is one of Europe’s largest regeneration opportunities, with potential for 25,500 new homes and 65,000 new jobs. A High Speed 2 and Elizabeth line (formerly Crossrail) interchange, due to open in 2026, will transform one of the most inaccessible parts of London into a well-connected, world-class transport hub, handling 250,000 passengers a day. OPDC seeks to maximise the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of investment in transport infrastructure to create an exemplar new sustainable neighbourhood, delivering housing and commercial development, creating opportunities for local people and driving innovation and growth in London and the UK.

The Place Review Group, now managed by Frame Projects on behalf of OPDC, operates as a panel of nationally and internationally recognised practitioners with a broad range of expertise and experience who will review and provide independent advice to OPDC on a range of planning applications, masterplans and other projects within Old Oak and Park Royal. The Group aims to support OPDC in achieving high quality, innovative and sustainable placemaking and will play an advisory role by providing impartial advice to the OPDC Planning Committee and OPDC Board for consideration. Experts from the planning, landscape, architecture, conservation and engineering industry make up the Group, including Peter Bishop, Professor of Urban Design at UCL and Director at Allies and Morrison, who is appointed Panel Chair. Peter held senior planning roles in central London boroughs for 25 years, working on major projects such as the King’s Cross railway lands development. He was the first Director of Design for London, and Deputy Chief Executive at the London Development Agency where he worked on the London Olympic Legacy Plans.

The Place Review Group will operate in accordance with the 10 design review principles jointly agreed by Design Council CABE, the Landscape Institute, RTPI and RIBA.

Liz Peace CBE, Chairman of OPDC said:

"ODPC has set ambitious design standards for development in its area in our Draft Local Plan, and the Place Review Group provides independent expert advice to support OPDC in achieving these aims. We are delighted that Frame have come on board and refreshed the panel, as this group of experts will advise on all aspects of design quality, and ensure new development strengthens and enhances the quality of new and existing places across Old Oak and Park Royal."

Peter Bishop, Chair of the OPDC Place Review Group said:

"Old Oak Common will be the most important new development opportunity in London since the Olympics at Stratford. Situated on the interchange between Crossrail and High Speed 2, with proximity to central London and Heathrow, its potential is enormous. But this area has huge design challenges. The role of the panel will be to assist the OPDC to design an exemplary new piece of London, a place that builds on its history and its existing communities to be a location of choice for people to work, live and visit. Old Oak Common should aspire to be the next London paradigm that sets the standards for the future."

OPDC has also asked Frame Projects to recruit passionate local people to join a new Community Review Group, which will sit alongside the Place Review Group, to provide comments on development plans in the area for consideration by OPDC Planning Committee and OPDC Board. Recruitment for the new Community Review Group is expected to go live from the middle of June 2018.