Fears highlighted that 'Heathrow Opportunity Area' could industrialise and blight Yiewsley and West Drayton

Councillor Anita MacDonald, (Lab) who represents West Drayton, said: "The main core area affected is West Drayton and Yiewsley

"The worry is that people are not being properly consulted."

Councillor Janet Duncan, (Lab) who represents Yeading, but was at last week's high speed rail meeting in West Drayton, said: "The whole 'Heathrow Opportunity Area' extends to the whole of West Drayton and Yiewsley, and wants more industrial development, but the majority of this is a residential area.

"Office blocks and hotels sound very much like the Bath Road to me."

Councillor Dominic Gilham, who represents Yiewsley (Con), said: "The Heathrow Opportunity Area is about trying to reduce the gap between north and south, but I urge people to speak to the council and respond in writing or online."

Cliff Dixon, of West Drayton, wrote on the Gazette's website, said: "This designation gives priority to the building of hotel and office stock in what is predominantly a residential area, and potentially gives the green light to turning the High Street in to Bath Road mark two.

"Whilst the regeneration of this area should be a priority for Hillingdon Council, there are many brownfield sites already available to be built on for both office and hotel properties without the need to completely change the character of West Drayton.

"We also have a lack of housing in the area down to successive government policies, yet many industrial units and offices already lay empty in both West Drayton (Trout Road) and Uxbridge (Industrial Estate and Oxford Road) - So why build more at the moment when supply outstrips demand?"

MP John McDonnell, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency includes West Drayton, said: "The council is changing the planning rules for the area in a way which will dramatically impact on our community and yet nobody seems to know about this.

"I am extremely worried that this significant change, which could allow the wholesale redevelopment of residential areas with offices and hotels, is being slipped through by the backdoor. It is the typical secretive behaviour of this council."

For more on this and what it could mean keep reading

ECONOMIC growth versus the quality of living is the big argument facing the south of the borough set forward in Hillingdon's long term strategy for 2026.

The most controversial part of the 'Local Development Framework' is shaping up to be the Heathrow Opportunity Area, which it is argued would change the landscape of Yiewsley, West Drayton, and Hayes town centre.

By relaxing planning laws and encouraging hotels and office blocks to invest in these areas, it would hope to attract 9,000 plus jobs, but the problem is with the proposal, that at present it is inclusive of residential areas.

Hillingdon Council said the chance for development must be taken, but opposition councillors and residents alike have warned the HOA could turn busy communities into the uninhabitable Bath Road A4.

Jean Palmer, director of planning, environment, and community, said: "Yiewsley and
West Drayton form part of the Heathrow Opportunity Area, which is a regionally important location for growth, and suitable for regeneration opportunities such as improved transport links, housing and business developments, which will create an improved place to live and work.

"These plans are in addition to nearly half a million pounds already being spent to regenerate part of the West Drayton and Yiewsley town centres and a further £2 million from TfL."

Around 9,000 (or one in 15) residents in Hillingdon work at Heathrow airport, and the aim of the LDF is to capitalise further on the opportunities afforded to the borough by the
world's busiest airport, and build an infrastructure to support it.

The HOA was created by the Greater London Authority, who in their London Plan, identified the area around Heathrow Airport as ripe for investment and development.

Hillingdon's LDF report warns of the noise and environmental impact extra development would bring to the area: "Increasing development and commercial activity around
Heathrow is required to sustain the economic competitiveness of the borough; however, this will invariably lead to greater impacts on air quality. This poses a significant challenge for the borough."

With development would come changes to the transport system, as the report acknowledges the HOA centres around 'congestion hotspots' in West Drayton and Hayes, but rules out the construction of new roads, arguing for improved public transport and highway improvements.

The need for extra office space was called into question by opposition Labour councillor Anita MacDonald, who represents West Drayton.

She said: "I do not know if extra office space will be needed on such a large scale, this does not seem thought through.

"It is about looking forward to 2026 and forecasting how life will be, already people work remotely and not in the office, what makes the council think we will need masses of office space, the likelihood is demand will be low."

Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP John Randall, (Con) whose constituency covers Yiewsley, said: "What is put in the LDF and what actually happens are often two very different things. Years back one development plan for Uxbridge made it look like Randalls (in the High Street) was under threat, but it turned out to be nothing to worry about, sometimes these maps are drawn up without people realising that people own what is already there."

Hillingdon Council added that detailed proposals for the Heathrow Opportunity Area will be set out specifically in a future Heathrow Area planning document.

There will be further opportunity to comment on the Core Strategy document later this year with a final version of the plan for Hillingdon expected to be complete by December 2011.

The consultation process
Representations are due by Friday (July 30)
To submit your comments:
email ldfconsultation@hillingdon.gov.uk
write to LDF Team 3N/02, Planning, Environment and Community Services, Civic , High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW
visit www/hillingdon.gov.uk, and make an online response under 'Have Your Say'

Copies of the document are available to view:
Online, in the 'planning' section
At the borough's public libraries
At the Hayes One Stop Shop, in Station Road
At Planning Information Services, in the Civic Centre, Uxbridge

What impact do you think the HOA will bring to Yiewsley and West Drayton?