THE Old Oak Common regeneration scheme by the Grand Union Canal has been described as being 'London's worst cock-up in 50 years'!
This is Boris Johnson's flagship regeneration scheme of a run-down industrial estate by the Grand Union Canal in West London, that will include a new canal basin, but the leading government adviser, Urban Planner, Sir Terry Farrell, says poor planning means thousands of intended homes cannot be built by the canal owing to a major design fault, Roger Fox tells us.
Heading for disaster
Estimated at £10 billion this is the biggest development in the country, but is heading for disaster in the rush to finish Crossrail, as politicians are ducking key decisions.
The problem is that engineers working on Crossrail are not making space for the pilings that would support construction of homes, offices, shops and restaurants on decking over the existing railway lines.
Cannot be built
Without the decking, the 12,000 homes south of the canal cannot be built,and redesigning the sidings to make space for the pilings, it is estimated, would take several months and cost up to £200 million.
The massive development will create over 25,000 homes, and will provide around 50,000 jobs over 15 years, all being close to London's main transport hub.
However, Sir Terry tells that the rush to complete Crossrail, that has been renamed the Elizabeth Line, means that much of the development cannot now take place.