The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) has appointed Melinda Knatchbull as chief financial officer, marking a key step as the £10 billion redevelopment of the former Earls Court Exhibition Centre site moves forward.
With more than 25 years of experience in real estate investment management, Knatchbull has held senior roles including CFO at Sellar and global chief operating officer at Schroders.
Her expertise in finance, operations, and risk management positions her to lead the capital projects and investment strategies essential to the project.
ECDC is set to begin the delivery phase next year, pending planning approval, with the first residents expected to move in by 2030 and full completion targeted for 2041.
The project, which is being built on behalf of the Earls Court Partnership – a joint venture between Delancey, APG, and Transport for London – will deliver 4,000 homes, 2.5 million sq ft of workspace, and three cultural venues.
It is expected to generate up to £3 billion annually for the UK economy, create 23,500 jobs, and span an 18-year construction timeline.
Located across Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham, the masterplan architects for phase one are Studio Egret West and HawkinsBrown, alongside nature-based landscape architects SLA.
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Rob Heasman, CEO of ECDC, expressed confidence in Knatchbull’s leadership.
“Her wealth of experience and strong track record give us great confidence as we move into the delivery phase,” he said.
“Melinda will be instrumental in ensuring this once-in-a-generation project delivers on its full potential for both the country and the capital’s growth agendas.”
Knatchbull added: “It is a privilege to take on the CFO role at such an important stage for Earls Court.
“This project is not only about creating a new neighbourhood for London but also about making a significant contribution to driving growth for the UK economy.”
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