Plans to bring thousands of new homes and jobs to residents in one of the most deprived parts of the borough moved a step closer this week.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council bosses have agreed to work with other landowners in Earls Court to potentially bring about what could be one of the biggest regeneration projects in London.

Council leaders want to use the planned redevelopment of Earls Court exhibition centres after 2012 to provide new homes, shops and offices in north Fulham and West Kensington.

The council wants to see an international conference centre built in the area that could help generate up to 5,500 new jobs.

If the landowners can agree, the council wants to use the potential investment from this development to build new homes for 1,650 residents on West Kensington and Gibbs Green estate.

Guarantees have been issued to tenants stating that if redevelopment occurs they will be offered a new home in the same area as they are living.

This week the council leader Stephen Greenhalgh dismissed claims that the council wants to move people out of the area.

He said: "There is a lot of misinformation being spread which is unnecessarily worrying people.

"West Kensington estate will not be fit for purpose as a place to live in years to come.

"As a result, we would be letting down local residents if we did not look at the opportunities that the redevelopment of Earls Court could provide - not just for residents on the estates but for the whole of north Fulham and West Kensington.

"We want to look at ways to bring improvements to public transport, as well as jobs to the area, while giving us the chance to build people better homes in the same area."

The council has signed a collaboration agreement to work with the operators of Earls Court, Capital & Counties, along with Transport for London, which owns the Lillie Road depot.

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