QPR step up their pursuit of Old Oak site

• Public invited to view proposals

• Fernandes pushing ahead with plans for 40,000-capacity arena

• Stadium would “serve as a catalyst for regeneration”

QPR are delivering more than 50,000 newsletters to homes and businesses across west London as part of the consultation on their regeneration plans for Old Oak.

The club’s owners, fronted by chairman Tony Fernandes, have long been keen to turn the area between Scrubs Lane and Willesden Junction into a sport and leisure hub that would include thousands of new homes and a 40,000-capacity stadium to be used by Rangers.

West London Sport revealed last month that QPR were planning to seek fans’ backing in a campaign to keep the club in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and stave off the threat of potential rival developers acquiring the land.

The first steps were taken when a page in the match programme for Saturday’s game against Sunderland urged supporters to play their part in the consultation process.

And the club have now arranged public exhibitions where their plans for the area – which would be called New Queens Park – can be viewed.

A website – www.new-queens-park.co.uk – has also been set up.

The stadium-led regeneration has already received initial backing from London Mayor Boris Johnson and the relevant local authorities; Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing and Brent.

In addition, QPR say Stadium Capital Developments (SCD), the company spearheading the project on their behalf, has entered into exclusivity land arrangements with Network Rail and other landowners who control major parts of Old Oak.

Fernandes said: “We are looking to deliver much more than just a stadium.

“We want to create a new destination that we propose to call ‘New Queens Park’. It will serve as a catalyst for regeneration, creating thousands of new jobs and homes for local people.

“It will be a major transport hub that will connect Old Oak to the rest of London and other major cities across the UK.

“Our new 40,000-seat stadium will become a focal point hosting not just football, but other entertainment and community activities for residents and visitors to enjoy.

“This will give us a top quality stadium that will be able to cater for QPR’s needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead.

“We are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world, and making this our new home.

“There are many local benefits that will arise out of the regeneration of the Old Oak area, including new homes, new jobs and a much improved local environment.

“These benefits will be shared widely by the surrounding communities in Hammersmith, Ealing and Brent, including large numbers of our supporters.

“This is very much the start of the process. We want to share our ideas and plans and in turn hear from the local community.

“The aim is that local residents, our fans and others with an interest in this part of London will come along and help us shape our proposals.

“The forthcoming public exhibitions provide the first opportunity for this, and as our plans evolve we’ll hold more events.”

Antony Spencer of SCD, who oversaw Arsenal’s move the Emirates Stadium, is leading QPR’s relocation project.

“We envisage a new vibrant, mixed-use and high-quality development that will regenerate the area and turn this neglected but very well-connected area into a new world-class city quarter,” Spencer said.

“We have assembled a top-class professional team to design thousands of new homes and new commercial space, including retail, studios and offices, restaurants, cinemas, a hotel and other leisure accommodation.”

QPR’s public exhibitions are scheduled as follows:

Monday 15 September and Tuesday 16 September: Loftus Road (2pm-8pm)

Wednesday 17 September and Thursday 18 September: Holiday Inn London West, 4 Portal Way, North Acton, W3 6RT (4pm-8pm)

Friday 19 September: St Mark’s Church Hall, Bathurst Gardens, Kensal Rise, NW10 5HX (12 noon-4pm)

Saturday 20 September: St Mark’s Church Hall (9am-1pm)

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