Park Royal

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Park Royal
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Park Royal station
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Park Royal
Location within Greater London
OS grid reference TQ195828
London borough
Ceremonial county Greater London
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town LONDON
Postcode district NW10
Postcode district W3
Dialling code 020
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
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List of places
UK
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51°31′45″N0°16′53″W / 51.529088°N 0.281267°W / 51.529088; -0.281267

Park Royal is an area in Northwest London, England, divided between the London Borough of Ealing and the London Borough of Brent.

Contents

It is the site of the largest business park in London, [1] but despite intensive existing use, the area is, together with adjacent Old Oak Common, intended to become the UK's largest regeneration scheme. [2] This arises from the area's relatively central location and also the strong and improving transport links which will include (at Old Oak Common), HS2 and the Elizabeth line. The scale of redevelopment has led to the Park Royal and Old Oak area being described as a potential "Canary Wharf of West London". [3] [4]

Location

Map of Park Royal Business Park (OpenStreetMap) Map of Park Royal, London.png
Map of Park Royal Business Park (OpenStreetMap)

To the north of Park Royal is Harlesden in the northeast, West Twyford, an outlying area of Ealing, in the northwest, and a Network Rail depot at Stonebridge Park in the far north, which also has London Underground Bakerloo line tracks running through it (and Harlesden station nearby). On the eastern side, Park Royal is bounded by Acton Lane and Park Royal Road (B4492). The Central Middlesex Hospital is located here.

The Grand Union Canal runs through the middle of the Park Royal industrial estate, with pedestrian access via the towpath.

History

The name Park Royal derives from the short-lived showgrounds opened in 1903 by the Royal Agricultural Society as a permanent exhibition site for the society's annual show. After only three years the society sold the site, and returned to a touring format for its shows. With its road, rail and canal links, Park Royal was subsequently developed for industrial use, mainly during the 1930s.

The Guinness Brewery Park Royal during demolition, at its peak the largest and most productive brewery in the world Park Royal Guinness Brewery during demolition December 2005.jpg
The Guinness Brewery Park Royal during demolition, at its peak the largest and most productive brewery in the world

For many years it was a centre of engineering, with firms including Park Royal Vehicles, GKN and Landis and Gyr. [5]

Queens Park Rangers F.C. played on two grounds in Park Royal. The first was the Horse Ring, later the site of the Guinness brewery, which had a capacity of 40,000. When the Royal Agricultural Society sold the grounds in 1907, QPR moved to the Park Royal Ground, 400 yards (370 m) south, an almost exact replica of Ayresome Park, with a capacity of 60,000. The club was forced to move out in February 1915 as the ground was taken over by the Army. [6]

On 12 December 1908, the first ever rugby league test match between Great Britain and Australia took place at the Park Royal Ground in front of 2,000 fans. The match ended in a 22-all draw and was played as part of the first ever Kangaroo Tour. [7]

Sidings at the former Guinness Brewery Former Guinness Brewery sidings at Park Royal on 14th July 2016 looking West.jpg
Sidings at the former Guinness Brewery

The Guinness Sports Club hosted some of the hockey events for the 1948 Summer Olympics. [8]

Economy and redevelopment

Existing

It is the site of the largest business park in London, occupying about 1,200 acres (490 ha). [1] Park Royal business park has over 1,200 businesses, employing an estimated 35,000 workers. [9] Approximately 500 food companies operate at Park Royal, employing more than 14,000 people. [10]

Park Royal also has areas of residential housing and amenities serving them. Park Royal Business Park is promoted commercially by the Park Royal Partnership, which is part of West London Business.

On the southern side beyond the arterial Western Avenue (A40), which leads to the Hanger Lane Gyratory System, is the Royale Leisure Park, which contains a cinema (which closed in June 2020), restaurants, arcade and a bowling alley. There is also a B&Q superstore, Renault and Nissan Car Dealerships, a Staples Superstore and other industrial buildings comprising the southern half of Park Royal.[ citation needed ]

Park Royal Underground station, on the Piccadilly line, is located just off Western Avenue. To the west of Park Royal is Hanger Hill and the North Circular Road (A406).

As well as many small industrial firms, Park Royal is the location of some large company buildings, including McVities [11] and Heinz. The old Guinness brewery and sports ground site at the south-western extremity of the district has now been demolished, however the rail sidings are still in use for aggregate freight traffic supplying the Lafarge Tarmac depot. The first building erected adjacent to the new roundabout and bridge link to Western Avenue is occupied by international drinks company Diageo, owner of the Guinness brand and the redevelopment site. The Female Health Company, which manufactures Femidoms, has one of its two manufacturing plants here, too.[ citation needed ]

Royale Leisure Park Royale Leisure Park, Park Royal, Acton - geograph.org.uk - 15918.jpg
Royale Leisure Park

It is public policy to maintain Park Royal as predominantly a business area. It is designated as an Opportunity Area, and in 2008 the Mayor of London's office published a draft Planning Framework which aspires to maintain, "growing economic clusters of food/drink, transport/logistics and television/film." [12] The framework does not preclude use of parts of the site for housing.

In summer 2011, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham launched a Park Royal City plan for Old Oak Common, based around the immediate eastern border of North Acton, including light-rail lines to nearby areas. [13]

Park Royal has a large ASDA superstore.[ citation needed ]

Park Royal tube station Park Royal stn building.JPG
Park Royal tube station

Re-development

New built high rises in the Park Royal-North Acton area Park Royal high rises.jpg
New built high rises in the Park Royal-North Acton area

The Old Oak and Park Royal redevelopment area is envisaged to provide 65,000 new jobs and 25,000 new homes. [14]

Transport

Road

Park Royal is served by the A40 and A406 roads, and is situated close to a major interchange called the Hanger Lane gyratory.

Cycle Network

There is a proposal to build a Barclays Cycle Superhighway CS10 from Hyde Park to Park Royal, which is under review by Transport for London. [15] [16]

London Cycle Network routes 40, 42, 84 and 85 all serve Park Royal. [17]

Underground and Overground

Stations in the area are:

Future transport developments

As well as HS2 and the Elizabeth line at adjacent Old Oak Common, three possible new transport services have been proposed for the area:[ when? ] the West London Orbital, Fastbus and the North and West London Light railway. [18] [19] [20] [21]

In 2004, the multinational Diageo company agreed to build extra Central line platforms at Park Royal tube station, as part of its First Central business park, built on the site of the (now demolished) Guinness brewery. This is not being actively pursued; London Underground said that the transport benefits of a Park Royal station on the Central line are not sufficiently high to justify the costs of construction. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acton, London</span> Town in Greater London, England

Acton is a town and area in west London, England, within the London Borough of Ealing. It is 6.1 miles (10 km) west of Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Ealing</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Ealing is a London borough in London, England. It comprises the districts of Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale and Southall. With a population of 367,100 inhabitants, it is the third most populous London borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perivale</span> Town in West London, England

Perivale is a mainly residential suburban town of Greater London, 9.5 miles (15.3 km) west of Charing Cross. It is the smallest of the seven towns which make up the London Borough of Ealing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willesden</span> Area of north-west London, England

Willesden is an area of north-west London, situated 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Charing Cross. It is historically a parish in the county of Middlesex that was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Willesden in 1933; it has formed part of the London Borough of Brent in Greater London since 1965. Dollis Hill is also sometimes referred to as being part of Willesden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepherd's Bush</span> Suburb of West London, England

Shepherd's Bush is a suburb of West London, England, within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham 4.9 miles (7.9 km) west of Charing Cross, and identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willesden Junction station</span> London Underground and London Overground station

Willesden Junction is an interchange station located in Harlesden, north-west London, for London Underground and London Overground services. The station also borders the London Borough of Ealing, near the Old Oak Lane conservation area in the East Acton ward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlesden station</span> London Underground and London Overground station

Harlesden is a Network Rail station on Acton Lane in northwest London, served by London Overground and by London Underground Bakerloo line trains. The railway line here is the border between the Harlesden and Stonebridge residential area in the east, and the Park Royal industrial estate to the west. The southern end of Willesden Brent Sidings separates the station from the West Coast Main Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Avenue, London</span> Major road in Greater London, England

Western Avenue is part of the A40, a major road running in a north-westerly direction out of London. Western Avenue is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long from its junction with Old Oak Common Lane in East Acton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanger Lane tube station</span> London Underground station

Hanger Lane is a London Underground station in Hanger Hill, Ealing, on the border between West and Northwest London. It is located on the West Ruislip branch of the Central line, between Perivale and North Acton stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Acton tube station</span> London Underground station

North Acton is a London Underground station in North Acton, west London in the London Borough of Ealing. The station is on the Central line between East Acton and Hanger Lane on the West Ruislip Branch and West Acton on the Ealing Broadway Branch. It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 2 and Zone 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Ealing tube station</span> London Underground station

North Ealing is a London Underground station on the Uxbridge branch of the Piccadilly line between Ealing Common and Park Royal. The station is located on Station Road, a short distance from the junction of Queen's Drive and Hanger Lane. It is in Travelcard Zone 3. West Acton station on the Central line is located about 550 metres to the east at the other end of Queen's Drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Acton</span> Human settlement in England

North Acton is a part of Acton in west London, and is within the London Borough of Ealing. It runs adjacent to the industrial district of Park Royal. Historically part of the Municipal Borough of Acton in the county of Middlesex, it has formed part of the London Borough of Ealing since 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Oak Common railway station</span> Planned railway station in London

Old Oak Common (OOC) is a railway station under construction on the site of the Old Oak Common traction maintenance depot to the west of London in Old Oak Common, approximately 500 m (1,600 ft) south of Willesden Junction station. When built, it is expected to be one of the largest rail hubs in London, at about 800 m (2,600 ft) in length and 20 m (66 ft) below surface level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dudding Hill line</span> Railway line in northwest London

The Dudding Hill Line is a railway line in west and north-west London running from Acton to Cricklewood. It is roughly 4 miles (6.4 km) long, with a 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) speed limit, and semaphore signalling. The line has no scheduled passenger service, no stations, and is not electrified. It is lightly used by freight trains and, very occasionally, passenger charter trains.

West Twyford is a small residential area forming a northeastern corner of the London Borough of Ealing directly northeast of Hanger Lane station and north of Park Royal, south of the London Borough of Brent and the River Brent. It was historically an extra-parochial area, then civil parish (1866-1926), in Middlesex, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A40 road in London</span> Major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales

The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales. The A40 in London starts in the City of London and passes through six London Boroughs: Camden, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing and Hillingdon, to meet the M40 motorway junction 1 at Denham, Buckinghamshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acton–Northolt line</span> Railway line in West London

The Acton–Northolt line (ANL), otherwise known as the New North Main Line (NNML), is a railway line in West London, England. Built between 1903 and 1906, it runs from the Great Western Main Line at Old Oak Common TMD to the Chiltern Main Line at South Ruislip, alongside the West Ruislip branch of the London Underground Central line, for a distance of around 11 miles (18 km).

The North and West London Light Railway (NWLLR), formerly known as the Brent Cross Railway, is a proposal for a light rail system in North and West London in the UK. It was put forward by the London group of the Campaign for Better Transport and by the Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West London Orbital</span> Proposed rail line in England

The West London Orbital is a proposed extension to the London Overground railway system. The extension would make use of a combination of existing freight and passenger lines including the Dudding Hill Line, North London Line and Hounslow Loop. The route would run for approximately 11 miles (17 km) from West Hampstead and Hendon at the northern end to Hounslow at the western end via Brent Cross West, Neasden, Harlesden, Old Oak Common, South Acton and Brentford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Park, London</span> Human settlement in England

College Park is a small mainly residential neighbourhood in Kensal Green, to the north of the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London and is near Kensal Green station and Willesden Junction station. It borders the London Borough of Brent to the north and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the east. It is part of College Park & Old Oak wards of the United Kingdom.

References

  1. 1 2 "Invest in the UK Park Royal". Invest in the UK. Archived from the original on 29 March 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  2. ↑ "From GLA website: Deputy Mayor kick starts the UK's largest regeneration project". Archived from the original on 15 October 2019.
  3. ↑ Prynn, Jonathan (27 January 2016). "'Famous institution' will move to Old Oak Common culture zone". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Plans to regenerate London's Old Oak Common clear hurdle". Financial Times. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "'Acton: Economic history'". A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 23-30. Victoria County History. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
  6. ↑ Inglis, Simon: Football Grounds of Britain, page 304. ISBN   0-00218426-5
  7. ↑ "Ashes Series 1908 Series - Game 1 - England 22 drew with Australia 22 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  8. ↑ 1948 Summer Olympics official report. p. 46.
  9. ↑ "Chapter 13 - PARK ROYAL" (HTTP). Brent Council Unitary Development Plan. London Borough of Brent. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  10. ↑ Wallop, Harry (18 February 2012). "London's 'bread basket' wrestles to keep costs down as even foodies cut back". The Daily Telegraph.
  11. ↑ http://www.unitedbiscuits.com/80256C1A0047922E/vWeb/pcTSTT5DWHZ7 Archived 24 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine unitedbiscuits.com
  12. ↑ http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning/park-royal.jsp london.gov.uk
  13. ↑ "Launch of 'Park Royal City'". London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  14. ↑ From GLA website - vision for the area https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/organisations-we-work/old-oak-and-park-royal-development-corporation-opdc/about-opdc/opdc-vision-and-mission
  15. ↑ "Barclays Cycle Superhighways / Routes & maps". TfL Website. Transport for London. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Barclays Cycle Superhighways Indicative Routes Map" (PDF). Transport for London Website. Transport for London. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  17. ↑ "Currently issued and used LCN Route Numbering and Destinations". LCN+ Maps Website. London Cycle Network. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  18. ↑ London Campaign for Better Transport Archived 14 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine North and West London light railway (NWLLR) / Brent Cross Railway (BCR) plan
  19. ↑ The Times Archived 25 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Comment on NWLLR light-rail proposal
  20. ↑ "West London Orbital" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011.
  21. ↑ "FastBus scheme" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2012.
  22. ↑ "Proposed Park Royal Central Line station" (PDF). London Borough of Brent. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
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