The OPDC Delivery team has been working over 2024/5 in preparing proposals which have now been published as a Masterplan Framework. The version of the document as endorsed by OPDC Board on Novermber 20th 2025 can be downloaded from the OPDC website. This is not yet the final version, and OPDC officers have delegated authority to make final amendments.
The area covered by the Masterplan Framework runs from Willesden Junction to North Acton station.
The OPDC’s proposed Complulsory Order covers this same area. This Order was approved (‘made’ by the OPDC on September 12th and is currently being considered by the Secretary of State at MHCLG.
The Framework will be a key document in dicussions and negotiations between OPDC and prospective ‘master developer’ partners in the first half of 2026. It defines OPDC’s aspirations for high-density high- rise development delivering around 8,000 housing units and 150,000-200,000m sqm of employment space. A CGI of the potential outcome of such development is below:
In recent months, our neighbourhood forum has been questioning OPDC about the status of this Framework document in relation to the OPDC’s 2022 adopted Local Plan. OPDC consulted on a set of ‘Spatial Principles’ and an ‘Illustrative Masterplan’ during 2024 and 2025. At this stage, the maps and images presented to the public were described as one way in which the area might be developed.
The November 2025 Planning Committee was advised that the Framework will enable OPDC (as delivery agent) to inform, guide and coordinate future planning applications across the Old Oak area. In relation to the 2022 Local Plan, the committee report explained that While the Masterplan and Framework are capable of being material considerations for planning decision-making purposes, the judgment as to the weight they should be given will be for the Local Planning Authority to make when considering particular applications, in accordance with usual practice.
This wording of ‘capable of being material considerations‘ prompted OONF to query with OPDC the status and significance of the Masterplan in relation to the Local Plan. Our first letter on this subject is below:
No reply was received to this letter, so we wrote again on 1st December objecting specifically to the wording in the Framework stating that All detailed development proposals within the Old Oak area are expected to take account of the vision, principles and guidance set out in the Masterplan Framework. We questioned why OPDC had not chosen to prepare the Framework as a development plan document, thereby updating and replacing policies and site allocations in the 2022 Local Plan.
We also objecting to a section of the document on ‘The Place Today‘ claiming that Old Oak is an exceptionally well connected with the new HS2 and Elizabeth Line station at Old Oak Common, Willesden Junction providing Overground and Bakerloo line services, and North Acton linking to the Central Line. This scenario of ‘connectivity’ remains 10-15 years into the future.
A response to this second letter was provided by Claire O’Brien at OPDC, and is below:
This did not answer all our questions, but confirmed that OPDC was taking ‘extensive legal advice’ on the way in which the Development Corporation is proceeding on its Masterplan Framework. The email used wording similar to that used by OPDC’s Director of Planning at the November OPDC Board that It would be irresponsible for me to make predictions as to the weight of the masterplan framework at the time of making a planning decision as this would fetter our discretion.
So there remains no clarity as to whether OPDC see the Masterplan Framework effectively as a replacement for policies and site allocations in the 2022 Local Plan, with these new 2025 proposals taking precedence. While the email gave an explanation of why OPDC has not chosen to update its Local Plan via a Partial Review, or one or more Area Action Plans (which are development plan documents), we have so far found their reasoning to be unconvincing. Hence our third letter sent on 9th December 2025:
This is where the correspondence rests as of early January. We hope for further clarification of the status and role of the Masterplan Framework in OPDC’s decision-making on development proposals, before the next OONF and GUA meeting on December 8th. We also await a final published version of the Framework document, to see if any of the wording to which we have objected is reframed or removed.