Key Points
- New Leadership: Urban Designer and architect Jas Bhalla has been announced as the new chair of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) Place Review Group to begin his duties from 1st September 2026.
- Previous Chair: Mr Bhalla replaces Prof Peter Bishop as chair after eight years in office.
- About the Panel: The 22 members of the Place Review Group is a body that provides independent advice for major development plans, planning policy and projects led by the OPDC.
- Participation: According to reports published by Leslie Bunder of Ealing.News, Mr Bhalla was already actively participating in the work of the Place Review Group since 2024.
- Future Projects: This comes as the Old Oak site is being developed on 70 acres of land with a project investment of 10 billion pounds and 8,000 homes.
Old Oak and Park Royal (West London Times) 15 September, 2026 – A new chair has officially been appointed to the independent panel that advises on major developments spanning across Old Oak and Park Royal, which includes key areas of uk/local/ealing/">Ealing such as North Acton, East Acton, and Park Royal. Architect and urban designer Jas Bhalla assumed the role of chair for the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation’s (OPDC) Place Review Group on 1 September 2026.
As detailed by Leslie Bunder of Ealing.News, Mr Bhalla steps into the position to replace Professor Peter Bishop, who successfully directed the panel for eight years. The Place Review Group functions as a 22-member independent advisory body, offering crucial counsel on major development proposals, overarching planning policies, and specific projects brought forward by the OPDC. Demonstrating a strong familiarity with the organisation’s framework, Mr Bhalla has actively served as a member of the Place Review Group since 2024.
What are the main priorities for the new chair?
Stepping into his new leadership capacity, Mr Bhalla has outlined clear focal points for the advisory panel as regional regeneration projects gather pace. Addressing his appointment, Mr Bhalla stated, as reported by Leslie Bunder of Ealing.News:
“I’m particularly looking forward to working with the panel as the Local Plan Review progresses, and as OPDC continues to develop the delivery strategy for the Old Oak development.”
Supporting this transition, Emma Williamson, director of planning at OPDC, highlighted the value that the new chair’s background will bring to the corporation. As documented by Leslie Bunder of Ealing.News, Ms Williamson stated that Mr Bhalla’s experience would “bring valuable insight” to the Place Review Group.
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How does this appointment impact the broader Old Oak development plans?
This leadership transition arrives at a pivotal juncture as long-term regeneration plans advance for the 70-acre, 10 billion pound Old Oak development site. According to the coverage provided by Leslie Bunder of Ealing.News, the sweeping regeneration project proposes the delivery of 8,000 new homes, supported by 20 acres of public realm, six acres of dedicated green space, and vital commercial and community facilities designed to transform the local landscape.
Background of the Particular Development
The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) was established by the Mayor of London to drive one of the largest regeneration and development opportunities in the United Kingdom. Spanning across parts of the London Boroughs of Ealing, fulham/hammersmith/">Hammersmith & Fulham, and Brent, the regeneration area centers around the massive transport interchange at Old Oak Common, which connects High Speed 2 (HS2) and the Elizabeth Line.
The Place Review Group was created to ensure architectural excellence and high urban design standards across all incoming projects within this massive industrial and brownfield transformation zone. Over the past eight years under Professor Peter Bishop, the panel has scrutinized masterplans and planning applications to safeguard the long-term liveability, sustainability, and architectural integrity of the area. With the Local Plan Review currently underway, the panel’s independent design advice remains central to shaping how thousands of new homes and commercial spaces will integrate with existing neighbourhoods like North Acton and East Acton.
This leadership transition and the ongoing progression of the Old Oak development are expected to significantly affect Ealing residents, local businesses, and property owners—particularly those living in neighbouring districts such as North Acton and East Acton. As the 10 billion pound Old Oak project moves forward under Mr Bhalla’s design oversight, local communities will likely experience increased construction activity, evolving transport patterns, and substantial demographic shifts driven by the introduction of 8,000 new homes.
For local residents and businesses, the emphasis on public realm improvements, green spaces, and community infrastructure could enhance local amenities and connectivity, while also raising questions about local housing affordability, traffic management, and infrastructural capacity. The Place Review Group’s independent scrutiny under its new chair will play a decisive role in determining whether the massive development successfully balances commercial growth with community-focused urban design, directly influencing the everyday quality of life for people living and working in Ealing.
