White City: Billions of pounds invested into Upstream project

An idea hatched in a pub has led to a £6bn transformation of an area in west London by turning it into a technology and life sciences quarter which has gone on to create 13,000 jobs, according to a new report.

Hammersmith Council leader Steve Cowan said the idea to rejuvenate White City came about when he was chatting with his fellow councillor, Professor Andrew Jones, about US models of co-operation between universities, business and government.

They then persuaded the then president of Imperial College London to come on board and build a new campus at the heart of the district.

“We’re working hard to turn the borough into a global beacon of innovation and growth,” said Mr Cowan.