In 2009, Imperial College London was growing in numbers as well as growing its reputation as a global destination for research and innovation. However, that growth was beginning to show signs of stalling due to the high cost of living in its home borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The University was looking for locations for a satellite campus and the answer lay in White City in the neighbouring borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, a borough that had suffered from a lack of investment since the 1990’s.
Imperial College London purchased the BBC Woodlands site for this satellite campus and over the next decade built new dormitories for students, state of the art laboratories for its chemistry department, created a new molecular sciences research hub, hosted the college’s hackerspace and community outreach centre. But with ambitions to attract creative and tech sectors that would help propel Imperial as a global, top tier institution, greater regeneration of the whole area was needed and so the Economic Growth for Everyone strategy was born.
Case Study: Hammersmith and Fulham Economic Growth for Everyone
Informed by the recommendations of the Industrial Strategy Board, the plan opted to seize the opportunity of a rapidly changing borough. The strategy aimed to drive collaboration across the public, research and private sectors. The plan has the following 4 priorities:
1. West Tech – to develop Hammersmith & Fulham as a global beacon for innovation and growth and a leading place for tech and creative businesses, education and research.
2. Encouraging enterprise – to establish Hammersmith & Fulham to be the best borough in Europe for business to start up, survive and grow.
3. A great place in London – to improve the borough’s town centres and commercial hubs to transform what they offer and enhance our reputation in Europe and around the world.
4. Economic growth for all – to encourage economic growth for everyone, whatever their background by putting residents’ needs at the heart of the new knowledge-based economy in the borough.
Developed with a number of local anchor institutions at the table, this work attracted more anchors from across London to come on board. Now, the council’s top goal is to establish Hammersmith and Fulham as a global destination in its own right.
The plan is looking to other European cities to build additional coalitions and partnerships. The council leader of Hammersmith & Fulham recently signed a Cooperation Agreement with Barcelona’s deputy mayor to connect and share ideas. In this post brexit UK, Hammersmith & Fulham is eager to formalize links with Europe.