The Mayor of London’s development corporation for Old Oak and Park Royal (OPDC) has today announced the appointment of Jas Bhalla as the new chair of its Place Review Group.

A qualified architect, town planner, and urban designer, Jas brings experience in regenerative master planning, strategic urbanism, and housing design at all scales. Jas is currently leading a wide range of projects, from strategic masterplans to retrofit schemes. He has been recognised in “40 under 40” cohorts for The Architects’ Journal and Building Magazine and currently serves as a Mayor’s Design Advocate.

OPDC’s Place Review Group is run independently by Frame Projects and plays an advisory role in the planning process through providing independent and impartial advice on development proposals, Development Plan documents and OPDC projects. The Place Review Group brings together leading professionals, working at the highest levels in their fields, and is made up of 22 panel members.

Jas took up his role as chair on 1 September, following on from Professor Peter Bishop who had successfully chaired the panel for the past 8 years.

Jas’s appointment comes at a critical time for the organisation as OPDC recently launched procurement for its flagship Old Oak regeneration - a 70-acre development of public land with a projected value of around £10 billion. Backed by an endorsed masterplan, Old Oak will deliver 8,000 new homes, 20 acres of public realm, 6 acres of green space and up to 200,000 square metres of commercial and community space.