Developer, Capital & Counties Properties (Capco), has received outline planning consent for its far reaching, and controversial, plans for a £8bn regeneration of Earls Court.

Plans, which have met with local protest, involve demolishing the famous art deco exhibition centre and two council estates. Land is being acquired under the Conditional Land Sale Agreement, although the company is having to negotiate with Transport for London about an important piece of land.

The first detailed planning application will be submitted in the coming weeks. Plans include 37 acres of new open space, 6,775 homes, office and workspace, retail space, hotels and service apartments, a health hub, a primary school, a community and cultural hub and leisure space with a sports centre.

With two crescents, garden squares and a large public square, development director at Capco, Gary Yardley, calls it a modern interpretation of the best parts of local area in Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham.

Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea councils are supporting the development. But, Hammersmith MP, Andy Slaughter criticised the development for destroying existing communities and historic sites and said it is aimed at speeding up the “social cleansing of west London.”

There has also been protest about the demolition of Earls Court, which hosts exhibitions and concerts. But Capco, which invested £30m in Olympia London three years ago, says events held at Earls Court can be hosted there instead.