Brent Council has welcomed the Mayor of London’s announcement committing £400,000 to the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, funding that will support the next stage of development for the West London Orbital. The project, a proposed new London Overground rail line, aims to bring under-used freight tracks back into passenger service, creating fast orbital connections between Brent, Barnet, Ealing, Hounslow, and Old Oak Common, where HS2 and the Elizabeth line will interchange.
The investment represents a major step forward for a scheme set to transform connectivity across west London while unlocking significant economic, social, and environmental benefits for Brent, the wider region, and the capital. Brent Council has already demonstrated its commitment, with the Cabinet approving a contribution of up to £615,516 toward the next stage of development in April 2025.
Independent analysis shows the West London Orbital could support 11,500 new jobs, including 3,400 within the four boroughs it serves. The project is also expected to facilitate the delivery of over 6,700 new homes, helping boroughs meet their housing targets and addressing London’s urgent need for additional housing.
Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said the West London Orbital is “a mission critical piece of economic infrastructure for our borough and for the whole of west London.” He added that connecting Brent directly to Old Oak Common and HS2 would boost business growth, provide residents with access to high-value jobs, and stimulate regeneration across the area. “We have already seen with the Elizabeth line that when you invest in world-class transport, demand grows, regeneration follows, and prosperity spreads. The West London Orbital will be no different.”
Councillor Teo Benea, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property, emphasised the benefits for local communities. With new stations planned for Cricklewood, Neasden, and Harlesden, more than half of households in these areas do not have access to a car. The new line will provide fast, affordable, and clean public transport, helping to cut congestion and emissions in communities that currently experience some of the poorest air quality in the capital.
The next stage of work will focus on detailed design for new stations, track upgrades, and infrastructure improvements, while strengthening the business case to government and funding partners. Brent Council also welcomes the Mayor’s commitment to a public consultation this summer, offering residents the chance to shape the scheme and its benefits for their communities.
The council will continue working closely with the Mayor, the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, Transport for London, and partner boroughs to secure the funding needed to move the West London Orbital into delivery, with the ambition of seeing services operational in the 2030s.
