The campaign for a new “Portobello Central” Crossrail station has been boosted by a report which says it would inject almost £700 million into the local economy and create 2,000 jobs.
A station would also improve access to the Portobello and Golborne Road markets and to schools and training in the North Kensington area, according to analysts Regeneris.
Their report for Kensington and Chelsea council said 770 jobs would be created through construction and related development, bringing £300 million in economic benefits, while a station would boost the area as a business location, adding another 150 jobs and £100 million.
Reduced journey times would be worth another £90 million and other benefits would come from improving residents’ access to jobs in other areas of the city.
The Conservative-controlled council has offered to pay for the station and the infrastructure needed to develop the former Kensal Gas Works after Transport for London said it would not fund any extension to Crossrail.
Golborne ward, which includes the 67-acre gasworks site, is the joint most deprived in London according to the GLA Intelligence Unit.
Kensington and Chelsea plans to release £33 million to underwrite the redevelopment, which would include social housing and affordable homes.
Labour councillors support the station plans but claim the figures do not add up. Councillor Pat Mason said: “The £33 million doesn’t even include the cost of buying the trains, which the council has promised TfL it will do, so the costs will be far more than they claim and that will mean more luxury housing and less social housing.”
Tory councillors say the costs will be recouped via planning deals with developers. Council leader Sir Merrick Cockell said: “It really is time for Crossrail to say yes to our station.”
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Crossrail said it had no authority to do so because the service is enshrined in an Act of Parliament and the decision rests with TfL. TfL has said it will only support the plan if the council can prove that it will not delay construction of the whole Crossrail project, compromise train performance or add costs.
