The long-awaited underpass project, approved by Hammersmith and Fulham and funded by Imperial College, marks a significant development for the local community.
This new underpass will connect the Imperial White City Campus with Latimer Road, providing a vital link for pedestrians and cyclists. The project, known as the ‘East to West Link Underpass,’ aligns with Imperial College’s planning (s106) agreement and promises substantial benefits for both campus users and the wider community.
Imperial College has already conducted site investigations on the Network Rail embankment and appointed a contractor for the pre-construction phase. However, several third-party issues remain, including long-term operation and maintenance arrangements, rights agreements with Network Rail, land rights over the Latimer Road site, and formal planning consent from two Local Authorities.
Although initial planning applications were submitted years ago, they were deferred pending clarification of long-term ownership. Now, fresh applications are being prepared for submission. The construction timeline depends on resolving these outstanding issues, but Imperial College is actively working to address them, holding regular meetings with key stakeholders. Once a construction schedule is confirmed, the local community will be notified.
The underpass will be 6 meters wide, 2.85 meters high, and approximately 30 meters long. It will feature five CCTV cameras for security and landscaped entrances. While cycle and pedestrian routes will not be segregated, different surface treatments will be used to minimize potential conflicts.
This project will significantly impact the Oxford Gardens Conservation Area, which has been isolated from Hammersmith by the railway line since the 1890s. Initially modest, the impact will grow as new developments in White City progress. The applicant for this transformative project is Imperial College Thinkspace Ltd.
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