Press
Positive planning decision for Olympia redevelopment plans
Read the full press release here
Should you have any questions regarding our plans or simply require more information please contact us.
For Olympia development enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Richardson, Edelman
T: + 44 (0)20 3047 2091
For events and venue media enquiries, please contact
Claire Kenton, EC&O Communications Manager
T: +44 (0) 20 7370 8838
Introduction test
We are committed to ensuring that Olympia sustains its position as a world class venue into the future. Therefore we are intending to invest in Olympia in order to preserve and improve one of the UK's best known venues.
We have plans for how we can deliver this but the views of our service partners, organisers, exhibitors, visitors and the local community are very important to us. We will be engaging in a thorough consultation with each of these groups throughout the project.
Our vision to enhance this historic venue will create smarter, more effective, more sustainable event space.
The New Olympia
A series of refurbishments and enhancements are planned at Olympia, which will preserve the fabric of the historic buildings – making the internal space both easier to access and utilise. We are also looking to improve the arrival experience for customers and how exhibitors enter and deliver to the site.
THE PROPOSED WORK INCLUDES
- Redeveloping the West Hall within its existing footprint, adding a floor and creating links to the Grand Hall and Olympia Two
- Refurbishing the Olympia Two building, including infilling the atrium on Level One, to create better exhibition and conferencing space
We will also ensure that the business continues to operate alongside this phased programme of refurbishments and that there is minimal impact on the surrounding community.
WHY WE WANT TO DO THIS
- We want to enhance and refurbish the venue to sustain and preserve the business going forward
- We believe the investment will bring in business, new jobs, and continued prosperity for Hammersmith and Fulham
We have created a vision for the whole site so that you can see a comprehensive, phased plan and we will consult both our customers and local residents before we submit any planning applications.
West Hall
Our plan is to revitalise the West Hall within its existing footprint. This work will take place behind the existing brick façade along Blythe Road, which will be restored.
We will add a floor and create links to the Grand Hall and Olympia Two. The Hall will be designed to be used in conjunction with other spaces or independently, giving Olympia a new found versatility. The design will remain sympathetic to the spectacular fan window of the Grand Hall.
We will incorporate a visitor entrance on Blythe Road improving the street frontage as well as bringing further flexibility to the venue. Our plans will also improve pedestrian access around the building and provide opportunities to enhance the aesthetics of the exterior.
Above
An artist's impression of how the new upper level of the West Hall would look from above.
+
3800
SQM of space is planned to be added via a new level on the West Hall.
Olympia Two
We can build on Olympia Two's enduring popularity for launch events by reconfiguring and enhancing the facility, and improving connectivity to the rest of the venue.
We can build on Olympia Two's enduring popularity for launch events by reconfiguring and enhancing the facility, and improving connectivity to the rest of the venue.
Left
Olympia Two as it looks today.
Below
An artist's impression of the Ground Floor of Olympia Two with the new level above it.
4,653
SQM would be created on Level One by filling in the atrium (subject to planning details).
Right
Level One in Olympia Two would connect directly to both the new floor in the West Hall as well as the Gallery Level of the Grand and National Halls.
FLOORPLAN
Rollover the different parts of Olympia to view them and see what we're developing.
Further Aspirations
As well as our intentions for Olympia Two and the West Hall, we are creating a vision for the whole venue using the best of what the site already offers.
We have aspirations to improve access to the Pillar Hall and introduce a destination restaurant on the ground floor. This will add to the dining offering for visitors to Olympia, whilst also providing another independent restaurant for the local community. Above this, a new floor will provide office space for the Olympia business.
Another option that we are exploring is using the majority of the ground floor of Olympia Two for servicing and delivery vehicles, rather than exhibition space. This would create a larger traffic marshalling area within the site and bring vehicles into the building, improving the working environment for organisers and residents.
Ideas to restore the original façade of the Grand Hall are also being explored. The current main entrance layout works well for the business but there is an opportunity to improve these arrangements in a way that compliments the existing building.
Options for a new and improved purpose-built conference centre continue to be investigated.
In addition we intend to step up our investment programme of the entire building, improving the general décor and upgrading hospitality rooms, toilets and lifts.
Moving Forward
This is the start of a new chapter for Olympia and we look forward to sharing our vision with you.
The Listed Building Consent has been granted to fill in the atrium on Level One of Olympia Two, with work planned to start this summer for completion by September 2010. The flexibility of Olympia will instantly improve with the increase of this space to 4,653 square metres which connects to the Gallery Level of The Grand and National Halls.
If planning permission is granted by September 2010 for the West Hall then our plan is to start work in February for completion in November 2011. The new West Hall Ground Floor would be completed for December 2011 and the entire West Hall including a new entrance will be open for business in spring 2012.
"We are dedicated to providing world class venues and these plans will open up all kinds of exciting opportunities for hosting events in Olympia. We will of course, keep you informed of how these plans unfold and the team would welcome any input you have concerning the development.
These are exciting times for EC&O Venues, and we looking forward to sharing them with you."
Nigel Nathan,
Group Managing Director
Community & Residents
We are very proud of our longstanding relationship with local residents and will continue to consult with the surrounding community about all of our proposals. Our plan is to address the considerations of local residents and businesses in our vision for Olympia, and we encourage feedback from all areas of the local community.
The exhibition, to be held at Olympia, is part of its consultation in advance of submitting the proposals for planning permission and listed building consent to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in the near future.
There will be a comprehensive exhibition showing the proposals with project staff on hand to answer questions and the opportunity for members of the local community to record their comments.
Residents will be able to see plans for a series of refurbishments and enhancements to Olympia, which will preserve the fabric of the historic buildings – making the internal space both easier to access and utilise. The plans will also seek to improve how exhibitors enter and deliver to the site.
The aim is to enhance and refurbish the venue to sustain and preserve the business going forward, bringing in new jobs and continued prosperity for Hammersmith and Fulham.
It will also ensure that Olympia sustains its position as a world class venue into the future. The plans will enhance this historic venue to create smarter, more effective exhibition space without significant additional impact on the local community.
The exhibition will take place in The Apex Room at Olympia, located above Pizza Express on the corner of Hammersmith Road and Olympia Way, W14 on Thursday 10 June 2010 between 1pm and 4pm and between 5pm and 8pm; and on Saturday 12 June 2010 between 10am and 1pm and between 2pm and 5pm.
A copy of the exhibition boards are available here.
If you would like to comment on these proposals, please email info@olympia.co.uk.
All the comments we receive will be collated into a Statement of Community Involvement and submitted as part of the planning application process. Once the plans have been submitted local residents will also have the opportunity to make representations through the statutory consultation process overseen by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
