Hillingdon Leader unveils vision with 2 scenarios of future Heathrow without the airport

The Leader of Hillingdon Council has set out his vision for the redevelopment of the Heathrow site should the government decide that a new hub airport ought to be built elsewhere in the south east. There has been a lot of scare mongering promoted by Heathrow, and its lobbying campaign, “Back Heathrow” to cause concern that jobs in the Heathrow area would be lost if a 3rd runway was not allowed. On the same day that Boris set out his own 4 scenarios for the area, if Heathrow closed, Hillingdon now sets out its 2 possible scenarios, in its “Heathrow Park: A Better Future for Heathrow.” These are: (1).  A smaller West London Airport similar in scale to City Airport;  with “Heathrow Park” delivering 31,000 homes for an estimated 67,000 people, and including those at the airport, around 72,000 jobs. (2). If Heathrow Airport closed completely Hillingdon anticipate the creation of “Heathrow Park” with up to 45,000 homes (30% affordable) for nearly 100,000 people, with over 66,000 jobs and a wide range of education, health, public open space and  community facilities. In the 2nd scenario, For both scenarios, the principle settlement of Heathrow Gardens and the surrounding ‘urban villages’ will be centred on existing tube and rail networks to maximise connectivity.
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Boris’s report:   Heathrow Redevelopment Scenarios

Hillingdon report:  Heathrow Park: A Better Future for Heathrow


 

Hillingdon Leader unveils vision without Heathrow

Cllr Ray Puddifoot, the Leader of Hillingdon Council, today (31 March) unveiled his vision for the redevelopment of the Heathrow site should the government decide that a new hub airport ought to be built elsewhere in the south east.

31 March 2014

Heathrow Airport Ltd has indicated that if Heathrow Airport is not allowed to expand it cannot continue to operate. (??)

Cllr Puddifoot agrees with the statement made by the local MP John McDonnell that ” we will need to counter the threat to jobs campaign that has been funded by Heathrow Airport in the Back Heathrow Campaign” and the statement of the Airports Commission in their Interim Report  that Heathrow is ” a very substantial site for redevelopment” and ” supporting the shift of London’s economic centre of gravity eastwards to allow for further expected population growth, combined with a major redevelopment opportunity of the Heathrow site, is an alluring prospect which could have a major impact on the economic geography of the South East.”

The blueprint,  Heathrow Park: A Better Future for Heathrow [2Mb] sets out two possible scenarios: one if Heathrow closes, with a smaller West London Airport similar in scale to City Airport; and the second, if there is the total closure of Heathrow Airport.

Cllr Puddifoot was joined by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who released a major report, Heathrow Redevelopment Scenarios, also examining how the site might be used in the future if a new international hub was built.

Heathrow Park offers a ‘garden city’ alternative to replace Heathrow Airport and would see the creation of tens of thousands of new homes and jobs.

The two scenarios set out in the Hillingdon masterplan are:

If Heathrow Airport closed completely 

This would see the creation of Heathrow Park containing up to 45,000 homes (of which 30 per cent would be affordable) for nearly 100,000 people, the delivery of  over 66,000 jobs and a wide range of education, health, public open space and  community facilities.  A vibrant centre, called Heathrow Gardens, would be located at the heart of Heathrow Park with larger facilities including a major  health centre and educational campus with further/higher education facilities.    Three independent villages would also be built, each with strong links to the  central Heathrow Gardens and existing adjoining facilities.

A new West London Airport established

The main features of the first option would be retained but with a regional airport established to the north west of the site employing 2,000 people and the creation of Heathrow Park delivering 31,000 homes for an estimated 67,000 people.   Including those at the airport, around 72,000 jobs would be created.

For both scenarios, the principle settlement of Heathrow Gardens and the surrounding ‘urban villages’ will be centred on existing tube and rail networks to maximise connectivity.

They would be built to the highest quality architectural and landscape design and located within a parkland setting. The environment will be at the heart of the plans with large expanses of open space, woodland and waterways.

Each home will be no more than 800 metres from a town or neighbourhood centre and few hundred metres from transport links.

Cllr Puddifoot said:  ”Whilst it is apparent that the only senior politician, of any party , with the clarity of vision to deal with this issue is Boris Johnson the decision on where to build the new airport is not, at this time, his to make. However what is abundantly clear is the need to start preparing now for the future of the site.  Our document, Heathrow Park, begins the debate and outlines a future without the airport or with a smaller airport. It shows the real potential of the site and presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to create tens of thousands of jobs and homes.”

http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/28263/Leader-unveils-vision-without-Heathrow

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Boris and Hillingdon’s leader unite to unveil “Heathrow city” visions

31.1.2014 Get West London

Boris Johnson optimistic about Heathrow’s development potential should the airport close

Mayor of London Boris Johnson with Ray Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council
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Mayor of London Boris Johnson was in Uxbridge (today) to reveal his plans for a future without Heathrow Airport.

Mr Johnson invited the media to the civic centre, in High Street, to a “behind closed doors” briefing on his “Heathrow redevelopment scenarios” report, which posits three potential outcomes for the vast Heathrow site should the Airports Commission decide against expansion and it go into decline and close as a result.

1.  The first is for a new “education and technology quarter”, with two large campus universities supporting an estimated 100,000 jobs.

2.  The report also suggests that it could be turned into a new town, delivering 48,000 homes for 112,000 people and generating up to £6billion for the economy each year.

3.  The third scenario is to build a vast residential area on the land, which is similar in size to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and become a commuter belt travelling into central London and Thames Valley, for a population of around 200,000.

The Mayor, who has long advocated a brand new hub airport to the east of London, said: “There is no question that Heathrow would present a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to create a new town within the capital.

“My vision offers the capital world-class air links combined with thousands of new homes and jobs. An expanded Heathrow just offers more misery.”

By his side for the announcement was Conservative Party compatriot and Leader of Hillingdon Council, Councillor Ray Puddifoot, who also unveiled the borough’s blueprint for Heathrow in the long-term.

The Hillingdon report, entitled “Heathrow Park: A Better Future for Heathrow”, also imagines the idea of the Airport closing and the creation of Heathrow Park, a cluster of purpose-built villages.

It also puts forward the notion of a new regional airport – a smaller-scale Heathrow – to the north-west of the site and coexisting with the new homes.

Mr Puddifoot said: “Whilst it is apparent that the only senior politician of any party with the clarity of vision to deal with this issue is Boris Johnson, the decision on where to build the new airport is not, at this time, his to make.

“However, what is abundantly clear is the need to start preparing now for the future of the site.”

The proposals have been criticised from Dr Onkar Sahota, Labour London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, who said: “The Mayor is today wasting yet more taxpayers money pushing his unworkable, unrealistic and unaffordable plan to close Heathrow in favour of a new airport in the Thames Estuary. His plan would wreck west London’s economy and create economic chaos for my constituents. He must be the only person left in London who thinks this is a good idea.”

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/mayor-london-boris-johnson-leader-6898030

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See also

Boris sets out his 4 ideas for future of Heathrow site if airport is closed

March 31, 2014

Boris has produced a report on what might happen to Heathrow and its surrounding area, if the airport was shut (and a massive airport built on the Thames estuary). The report sets out 4 schemes. Boris says he is “prompting a genuine, honest discussion about what London could achieve in a world post Heathrow.” He said: “The money seems to be going on Gatwick, but I do not think that is the long-term solution that London needs – in having a dual hub solution.” The 4 schemes are for a new education and technology quarter, with 2 new large campus universities; a new town, with over 48,000 homes for 112,000 people and 76,000 jobs created in total; a new residential quarter, on the scale of Hammersmith and Fulham, with 82,000 new homes supporting a population of 200,000, and 54,000 jobs; or a Heathrow City, with education and commercial research, high value manufacturing,knowledge parks and office development – with 80,000 homes and 90,000 jobs created.  The report says many of the jobs currently provided at Heathrow would “move to the new airport and be easily accessible via the world class transport links proposed.” There is a separate report by Hillingdon.

Click here to view full story…

 

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