HS2 Launches Consultation on Old Oak Common Lane Closure
Road will need to be shut for four years to enable station building
Picture: HS2
October 22, 2026
HS2 has begun a new round of public engagement on one of the most significant local impacts of the Old Oak Common station project: a proposed four-year closure of Old Oak Common Lane, scheduled to begin in early 2028 and run until the end of 2031.
The scale of the works is substantial. HS2 says the extended closure is required to allow construction teams to lower and widen the road, relocate major utility cables into new underground ducts and mini-tunnels, build new retaining walls, and construct a series of extended railway bridges that will carry Elizabeth line and Great Western Main Line tracks into Old Oak Common station. Lowering the road is also intended to ensure that double-decker buses can pass beneath the new bridges once the station opens.
HS2 acknowledges the disruption the closure will cause, stating: “We know that this will have a big impact on local communities and businesses. We are sorry about the disruption this will cause, and we are developing a number of support measures and mitigations.”
To gather feedback and present the latest plans, HS2 is holding a series of drop-in engagement sessions for residents and businesses. Four events are scheduled across October and December, including one at the Old Oak Common Station Visitor Centre on Wednesday 28 October, open from 4pm to 8pm.
Local groups are encouraging residents to attend this particular session — especially in the evening, when turnout is expected to be highest — to ensure community concerns are clearly heard. HS2 says all feedback will be considered before finalising the support measures early next year.
A visualisation of the new access road to Old Oak Common station. Picture: HS2
The proposed closure has already drawn significant attention from residents who rely on Old Oak Common Lane for daily travel to schools, hospitals and workplaces in the area. With the road forming a key north–south link, concerns have been raised about congestion, access for emergency services, and the impact on bus routes.
Access under this bridge needs to be lowered and widened. Picture: Google Streetview
Discussions are under way about alternative transport arrangements, including potential diversions for routes such as the 228, and the possibility of dedicated shuttle services coordinated with Transport for London. HS2 has said it is working with local authorities and community representatives to develop mitigation plans.
The works planned for Old Oak Common Lane form part of the wider transformation of the area into what HS2 describes as a “superhub” station. Recent construction milestones include the completion of the first six HS2 platforms in the underground station box, and ongoing tunnelling works between Victoria Road and Greenford.
Along Old Oak Common Lane itself, HS2 has already begun relocating utilities, demolishing outdated bridge structures and preparing the road for its eventual lowering. UK Power Networks will soon begin installing new high-voltage cables behind Wells House Road, following HS2’s installation of new ducts and tunnels.
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