Great West #8

HOUNSLOW WEST Great West Investment destination: Hounslow

A NEW HEATHROW GATEWAY

Issue 8 2019

www.hounslow.gov.uk

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Great West Investment destination:

HOUNSLOW

BRENTFORD: A PREMIER SETTING

27/02/2019 11:30

Heathrow expansion means 10,000 apprenticeships.

With expansion, and working with the Heathrow Skills Taskforce, we will help to ensure more young people are trained for the careers of the future.

Heathrow expansion is part of the plan to strengthen Britain’s future. That’s why we are getting on with delivering Britain’s new runway.

The number of apprenticeships across the airport would double with expansion, taking the total to 10,000 in the period to 2030.

For more information and the facts on this advert please visit: www.heathrowexpansion.com/local-community/job-opportunities/

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ATKINS, ONE OF THE MANY BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT HEATHROW EXPANSION

18/02/2019 13:07

Heathrow expansion means 10,000 apprenticeships.

With expansion, and working with the Heathrow Skills Taskforce, we will help to ensure more young people are trained for the careers of the future.

Heathrow expansion is part of the plan to strengthen Britain’s future. That’s why we are getting on with delivering Britain’s new runway.

The number of apprenticeships across the airport would double with expansion, taking the total to 10,000 in the period to 2030.

For more information and the facts on this advert please visit: www.heathrowexpansion.com/local-community/job-opportunities/

Untitled-3 All Pages

ATKINS, ONE OF THE MANY BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT HEATHROW EXPANSION

18/02/2019 13:07

Ballymore_Advert_2018_DPS_FP.indd 1

Enquiries Matt Stone 02075109114 mstone@ballymoregroup.com

08/02/2018 11:59

BECAUSE HOMES MATTER

Editor-in-chief: James Renoux-Wood Editor: Susan Hill Production manager: Christopher Hazeldine Art direction: Smallfury Designs Business development director: Paul Gussar Project manager: Sue Mapara Subscriptions manager: Simon Maxwell Managing director: Toby Fox

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GW | Contents

CONTENTS

Hounslow Council editorial liaison: Navjeet Natt Cover image: Brentford FC new stadium visualisation Images: Ricoeurian, Rough Cut TV, tp bennett, Allen Watkin (CC BY 2.0), Brentford FC, D+B Facades, Hounslow Council, Cristian Bortes (CC BY 2.0), TfL, Maxwell Hamilton (CC BY 2.0), Ethan Doyle White (CC BY 2.0), Reel Film, Vipul Sangoi, Urban Initiatives Studio, Allies and Morrison Architects, Huw Evans, Hounslow Awards, Tom Horna Photography, Juliet Sheath, Nick Webb (CC BY 2.0), Justin W Thomas, © Crown Printed by: Tradewinds Published by:

9 News

Sunley House, Bedford Park, Croydon CR0 2AP T: 020 7978 6840

The latest development stories from the London Borough of Hounslow.

17 Gunnersbury Park With a £50 million makeover planned and new music festivals, Gunnersbury Park is London's latest hotspot.

For the London Borough of Hounslow Hounslow House 7 Bath Road, Hounslow, TW3 3EB

25 Brentford FC

The Brentford Community Stadium development is forging ahead for completion by 2020.

30 Culture

Popular TV shows and arts centres are putting Hounslow on the map.

34 Projects

Reports on the schemes and areas having a transformative effect.

45 Connectivity

Hounslow is becoming better connected.

48 Facts and figures Recent major achievements.

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Subscriptions and feedback: greatwestmagazine.com

30 50 Better Heathrow

Community consultation is seen as vital to improving Heathrow airport.

© 3Fox International Limited 2019. All material is ­strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without the written ­permission of 3Fox International Limited is strictly f­ orbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at time of going to press, but we accept no r­ esponsibility for omissions or errors.

The views expressed in this ­magazine are not ­necessarily those of 3Fox International Limited.

53 Cleaner, greener

Pollution is a problem Hounslow Council is taking seriously.

58 Airline catering

Great West looks at plans to develop Heathrow's largest catering facility.

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28/02/2019 16:10

GW | News

NEWS

HOUNSLOW: ON THE MOVE Hounslow Council will move into its new purpose-built office, Hounslow House, this spring. The new town-centre landmark has been developed by Linkcity and built by Bouygues UK. With a focus on modern and flexible working, there will be shared offices for council, police and health services.

Hounslow House has been designed to create a welcoming, customer-focused environment and includes a library, adult education services, and a cafe.

Meanwhile, the Civic Centre’s former site on Lampton Road, is being transformed into 919 new homes, including 50% of homes for social rent.

The council is working with Linkcity, Notting Hill Genesis, and the Greater London Authority on the project.

Linkcity’s managing director, Nicolas Guérin, said: “Completion of this building is the culmination of years of collaboration with multiple parties to create something that truly benefits the local community.

This new civic building provides an exceptional working environment for the council, police and health services, as well as improved public spaces, including a modern library and attractive cafe.”

Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, added: “It’s been just over two years since the groundbreaking event and I’m delighted that we’re now almost at the point of moving into our new offices in the heart of Hounslow town centre. Hounslow House will provide an up-to-date office environment for our staff and visitors.

"As now, we will have our strategic partners working with us, including the Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS) and the Metropolitan Police team. While it is difficult to leave the Civic Centre after so many years, it’s wonderful to see that some residents have already moved into much-needed new housing that has been built on part of the site, with more housing to follow – 50% of which will be at affordable social rent.

"The council is committed to building new council and social housing for our residents and their families. This demonstrates our commitment to deliver on housing that has come to fruition because of our close working relationship with the mayor of London Sadiq Khan and our focus on delivery.”

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CITY HALL PRAISE FOR HOUSING PLANS Hounslow’s plans to transform the borough and build more genuinely affordable homes have been praised by the deputy mayor for housing and residential development.

James Murray, one of mayor Sadiq Khan’s squad of deputies, is working closely with Hounslow Council to help build the homes Londoners need.

Speaking to Great West, Murray said the council has been a major asset when it comes to achieving the housebuilding ambitions for the capital.

He said: “The mayor wants to work closely with councils across London and councils like Hounslow are really playing their part. Hounslow is building more social rented and other genuinely affordable homes and is really helping achieve the mayor's ambitions for London. We work really closely with the leadership team, with the councillors and the officers in Hounslow, to make

sure that we can support their plans to be as ambitious as possible in delivering new homes in their borough.

"Hounslow is always keen to get involved in the mayor’s programme, whether that’s building council homes for Londoners, investing in affordable housing or – more broadly – infrastructure and community facilities.

It is a strong partner which is doing impressive work.”

On Hounslow’s partnership with City Hall, Murray added: “Hounslow is ambitious and realises that, along with other boroughs across London, it needs to play its part in building the homes Londoners need.

"From City Hall’s point of view, it's great to work with boroughs such as Hounslow, which is keen to build more social-rented and other affordable housing and share our ambition for the future of the capital."

SUCCESS FOR CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE BID Hounslow has become a ‘Creative Enterprise Zone’ (CEZ), one of six successful London boroughs of 25 which put in a bid to the mayor of London for the status and funding.

The initiative aims to promote the creative industries, support local entrepreneurs and artists, create jobs and boost training opportunities for young people, while providing more affordable workspace.

The funding for the Great West Creatives programme was awarded in part thanks to plans to build new relationships with Hounslow’s substantial creative sector.

In particular, it will strengthen networks with Hounslow’s multinational companies such as Sky, Disney and Paramount, and local SME and micro companies, as well as creating career pathways for the borough's young people.

These relationships will aim to

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boost work opportunities and support business growth.

The scheme will provide specialist support training to freelance and SME businesses to ensure young people and students from the University of West London can thrive within the creative sector. The programme will also support the development of production and studio space for the TV and film industry.

Councillor Sue Sampson, Hounslow Council's cabinet member for leisure services, said: “It’s an exciting time ahead for Hounslow’s artists and small businesses who will have the opportunity to flourish thanks to this initiative.

“We very much look forward to seeing the creative sector shine in Hounslow, providing more jobs for our talented young people, opportunities for new businesses and room for growth and innovation.”

HOUNSLOW'S 5,000 HOMES PLEDGE Hounslow Council has pledged to secure 5,000 new homes, with 60% for social rent, by 2022.

These plans intend to reduce the number of families currently on the council’s housing waiting list for a permanent home.

The pledge to secure 3,000 homes for social rent and 2,000 for shared ownership will not only help tackle homelessness within the borough, but also help first time buyers get a foothold on the property ladder.

The council will deliver up to 1,000 of the new homes through its own housebuilding programmes, funded through the Housing Revenue Account and supported by the Greater London Authority (GLA).

Hounslow will work in partnership with housing associations, other public bodies, private developers and landowners to secure the remainder.

Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, said: “We are delighted to be given the green light for our ambitious pledge to secure 5,000 new homes by 2022.

"We have no doubt about the pressing and diverse housing needs of our residents and the scale of the challenges involved, but we are committed to respond to those challenges for the benefit of our residents and communities.”

Hounslow’s parks and open spaces have been awarded 11 prestigious green flags across the borough.

The international Green Flag Award scheme, now in its third decade, rewards parks and open spaces with the highest environmental standards, which are beautifully maintained or have exceptional visitor facilities.

Amongst this year’s winners is St Dunstan’s Park, which won the award for the first time following an improvement project last year.

The park has been used by locals since it opened in 1951 and now benefits from a new Active Space playground, which encourages outdoor play and physical activity.

Other Hounslow parks to have received the award include Bedfont Lakes Country Park, Chiswick Back Common, Dukes Meadows Recreation Ground and Lampton Park.

Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive 11 Green Flag Awards for our parks and open spaces this year, including St Dunstan’s Park for the first time.

"We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining our parks to a high standard. I would also like to thank the residents and volunteers who support our friends groups.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager, Paul Todd, said: “Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag award. We are proud to have so many wonderful green spaces in the UK for people to enjoy, and hope that next year, we award even more flags.”

GW | News

HOUNSLOW PARKS SCOOP GREEN FLAG AWARDS

HOUNSLOW TAKES THE HIGHWAY Hounslow has been recognised as one of the best places in London for street maintenance.

Hundreds of local authorities from across the country entered The MJ Awards – the Municipal Journal’s local government achievement awards. Hounslow Highways was presented with an award in the Highways Management/Asset Management category at a London Hilton Hotel ceremony last year.

Since the local authority appointed Hounslow Highways six years ago to maintain the borough’s roads, pavements and street lighting, approximately 206km of carriageways and 230km of footpaths have been resurfaced, 15,093 street lights have been replaced with new LED lanterns, five major structures have been refurbished and 13,336 traffic signs have been replaced.

The contract, which began in January 2013, also involves street cleaning, removal of fly tips, and managing trees and grounds.

Councillor Guy Lambert, cabinet member for highways, recycling and trading companies, said: “Keeping our streets maintained and clean is a constant challenge and we need residents to help by not littering and fly tipping, as it is costly to clean up and a blight on our borough.

"However, we are particularly proud to be recognised as one of the two best authorities amongst 32 London boroughs for the state of repair of our roads, having been well down the league table just a few years ago.

Rob Gillespie, Ringway Hounslow Highways' regional director, said: “I am delighted that the judges have rewarded us for our joined-up approach to managing the highways network.

“We don’t plan to stop there though; a rigorous focus on delivering better services should result in further improvements across Hounslow for at least another 20 years.”

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LEISURE CENTRE REOPENS

BOSTON MANOR WORKS The £5.7 million two-year restoration of Boston Manor House has received a funding boost. Following the announcement last summer that Hounslow Council had secured a National Lottery grant to restore the house to its former glory, the council received a further £490,000 in December 2018 for its ‘Community and Creative Catalyst’, which aims to boost the local economy and bring people together.

The mayoral funding will enable the creation of 14 designer-maker spaces for small businesses within the old service wing of Boston Manor House. It will also establish the ‘Arts Street Market’ for 70 stall holders as a ‘shop-window’ and meeting place for local and regional creative people. This will act as a hub for the creative community, providing retail opportunities, business support and opportunities for networking.

The overall project will include an improved visitor experience, with better resources and displays depicting stories of the manor house and the people who passed through it over its 400-year history. There will also be an educational and activity programme while the house is being restored, with opportunities for more volunteers to get involved in the project and running of the house.

HOUNSLOW’S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO MARK 110 YEARS

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Hounslow’s Chamber of Commerce is 110 years old in 2019 and the borough with London’s second largest economy after The City of London has marked a number of achievements.

Last October (2018), the chamber welcomed an inbound Chinese trade mission from a province with 100 million people and a GDP of $600 billion.

Strong overseas relationships have helped Hounslow’s Chamber of Commerce win the ‘Support for Exporting’ category at the Enterprising Britain Awards ceremony.

Alan Rides, director of international trade, said: “It’s very rare that a local Chamber of Commerce has inbound trade missions visiting them from overseas. But they are coming here to visit Hounslow, and why are they

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visiting Hounslow? Well, London as a city, is the largest business centre in the whole of the UK. “The GDP of London is roughly £500 billion, with the biggest centre of the GDP being in the City of London. So where’s the next biggest place for London? You guessed it, Hounslow.

"And here’s the secret that nobody talks about, Hounslow has the regional, and in many cases European headquarters, for companies such as Cisco Systems, SKY, Dell, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Walt Disney, Air France and Singapore Airlines.

"We’ve got these huge companies in the borough, and not many boroughs have a chamber that is about to turn 110 years old, and which has just won a government award."

Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre reopened its doors in January 2019, following the £1.3 million refurbishment of its swimming pools and gym.

The reopening, which was attended by the mayor of Hounslow, Councillor Samia Chaudhary, saw residents treated to gym taster sessions, health assessments, a spin challenge and a float frenzy session in the pool.

Visitors to the leisure centre can now enjoy upgraded pools, including a new tiled surround and pool surface in the main pool and new starter blocks for competitive swimming.

The pool hall has been redecorated with special non-slip flooring in the balcony area and new lights above the pools. The flume pool is now a learner pool, with increased capacity for swimming lessons, while the former teaching pool has also been refurbished.

An upgraded gym now offers 35 new pieces of cardiovascular equipment, including new treadmills, bikes, rowers, zero runners and cross trainers, as well as 22 fixed resistance machines, plus free weight and functional equipment, including a training rig, slam balls, kettle bells and Olympic rings and tyres.

Chaudhary said: “It was great to see so many residents at the opening and to be told how pleased they are to see the changes, with thanks to Fusion, which manages the centre on the council's behalf. The revamp will provide local residents with a new and modern facility that will better meet their needs and encourage them to become healthier and enjoy exercising, especially young people. We must encourage taking up sport and fitness activities at an early age to combat obesity, coronary heart diseases and diabetes, to name but a few.

Fusion Lifestyle's operations director, Anthony Cawley, added: “Hounslow and Fusion Lifestyle are committed to providing top quality services to the public and we hope they agree that the improved centre offers something for everyone.”

01/03/2019 10:07

Delivering Hounslow’s future!

Willmott Dixon Construction are unlocking inward investment to help Hounslow achieve its full potential as a place to live and work.

Want to know more?

Contact: STEPHEN PARKER (Willmott Dixon) stephen.parker@willmottdixon.co.uk

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Bath Road, Hounslow

We have been providing housing in Hounslow for over 70 years and now have over 2,800 homes in management in the borough and a further 350+ in the development pipeline.

This includes the Bath Road development where we are transforming a derelict site to provide 176 new homes for shared ownership and rent.

We create thousands of high-quality new homes across London and southern England. While we take a commercial approach to housebuilding, all the profits we generate are reinvested to support our social purpose, helping to deliver more homes and services for customers.

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19/02/2019 10:40:07

GW | Gunnersbury

40:07

BAROQUE AND ROLL!

Hounslow has confirmed its hip status, with the return of two of London’s coolest music festivals, Lovebox and Citadel, to Gunnersbury Park this summer. Now in the final stages of a £50 million makeover, overseen by the Gunnersbury Estate Community Interest Company, this historic park is marking itself as a cultural destination in its own right, as Shailja Morris reports

I

t was once home to royalty, before becoming the playground of the super wealthy Rothschild family.

The Gunnersbury Park Georgian mansion and grounds, with centuries of history steeped within its rolling acres, is speeding into the modern day and gaining some seriously cool credentials along the way.

Following a £21 million renovation completed last summer, the park’s neo-classical mansion forms the backdrop to hip music festivals, Lovebox and Citadel.

WORLD CLASS ACTS Pictured: Citadel revellers in Gunnersbury Park in the summer of 2018.

Last December, Gunnersbury Estate Community Interest Company and MAMA Festivals announced the return of the two events for 2019. These festivals are putting the park on London's cultural map, attracting 110,000 music fans from across the country, with an impressive line-up of acts (see page 20).

Following Lovebox and Citadel, a three-week season of immersive cinema lured 55,000 visitors, with

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Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet shown on giant outdoor screens, accompanied by live music, theatre performances and dance.

But it’s not all about appealing to younger people across west London and beyond. Gunnersbury Park and Museum, with its beautiful historic buildings, water features and grounds, are free for the public to explore.

Visitors can enjoy a rolling programme of weekly events aimed at the community, including the popular Little Flamingos parents and toddler group, a busy schools programme and reminiscence sessions for people living with dementia.

As David Bowler, CEO of Gunnersbury Estate Community Interest Company (CIC), explains: “Our aim for Gunnersbury Park is to be a contemporary modern park and museum that serves the people of west London. Although we’re historic, Gunnersbury is also a place where you can take family strolls and drop into the museum and Victorian kitchen or enjoy taking part in creative workshops. Our business model blends commercial and leisure offers with a high quality education and community events programme.

"We have around eight schools visiting the park every week, as part of our schools’ programme, as we also have an educational offer. The festivals and Secret Cinema have a cultural offer that west London hasn’t provided before. There is a strong value and legitimacy in bringing commercial popular cultural events to west London. If we can host them here, then that’s what we’re about.

"Gunnersbury Estate CIC is not a charity. We are a non-profit business and take a commercial

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Pictured: the historic grounds and mansions of Gunnersbury Park in Hounslow.

A modern park and museum that serves the people of west London

GW | Gunnersbury

approach. Every penny we make as a profit is reinvested into Gunnersbury Park and Museum."

GRAND DESIGNS The landscape and buildings of Gunnersbury Park have now been lovingly restored to their 18th and 19th century heyday. That’s been no mean feat given the scale of the place. Gunnersbury takes up an impressive 75.6ha, which includes a mix of historic parkland, open space and leisure amenities.

The park is now in its second phase of renovation, which will see the completion of a £15 million leisure complex in summer 2019, to include a new sports hall with gym changing rooms.

There will also be a cafe, floodlit hard court tennis courts, all-weather football pitches, new grass football pitches, three cricket pitches and a rugby pitch. There is also the possibility of a treetop obstacle course attraction such as 'Go Ape!' The re-opened Gunnersbury Park Museum, which sits across three floors in the main mansion, has also been subject to a complete renovation and is considered by many locals to be one of – if not the best – museum in the area.

As the local history museum for Hounslow, it holds an extensive collection of artefacts from the borough’s prehistoric era, through to the 20th century.

ARCHITECTURAL CURIOSITIES In addition to two mansions, Gunnersbury Park has 21 Grade II and II* listed buildings and a wealth of architectural and landscape curiosities, ranging from Princess Amelia’s bathhouse to classical landscape design vistas – carefully managed tree canopies that offer ‘surprise’ views, which seem to jump out at you.

These views have been skillfully recreated at Gunnersbury. A visitor looking across the round pond to the classical temple and across the rolling parkland to the mansion can enjoy a sudden vista of the orangery.

The horseshoe lake also reflects the magnificence of the main mansion, having been filled over in the 20th century, with a staggering number of trees – approximately 2,500. The initial phase of renovation focused on the house and expanded museum to the tune of around £21 million.

This has been transformed from three ground floor rooms and a Victorian kitchen, to nine galleries over three floors. The neo-classical mansion has been rendered back to its creamy white facade and archways have been restored.

In fact, Gunnersbury Park and Museum has all the characteristics of a large National Trust property, with the advantage that visitors do not have to pay for entry to explore this extraordinary historic jewel in west London’s crown.

GUNNERSBURY ESTATE COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY Outlining his vision for Gunnersbury Park and Museum, David Bowler, chief executive of the CIC, says: “Our ambition is to be part-and-parcel of the broad offer in west London. We recognise supporting inward investment, culture, leisure and heritage is important in terms of how businesses will look at the area. We want to continue to contribute to supporting the local economy.”

The Gunnersbury Estate Community Interest Company was set up in May 2018. It provides freedom to operate in a commercial manner, while maintaining accountability to its two partner councils, Hounslow and Ealing.

As Bowler says: "The CIC is working to transform Gunnersbury into a sustainable, high quality public space that serves residents, businesses and visitors.

Our museum service already caters to an audience of 600,000 residents. Once our leisure complex is up and running it will be one of the biggest sports centres in west London. It is unusual for a non-profit business to be responsible for such a diverse facility and we relish the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

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FESTIVAL FEVER

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It’s official: Lovebox and Citadel festivals will return to Gunnersbury Park this July, following hugely successful debuts last summer.

One of London’s most-loved music events, Lovebox used to be held in Victoria Park in east London where it was staged between 2005 and 2016.

In December last year, organisers MAMA Festivals were given the green light to repeat the success in its new west London home. MAMA Festivals also deliver other successful and critically acclaimed events including Wilderness (Oxfordshire) and The Great Escape (Brighton).

Following on from Lovebox's stellar line-up last year, which included acts such as Skepta and Childish Gambino (pictured on stage, right), the festival is sure to attract large crowds of younger music fans to Hounslow and Ealing again in 2019.

In February, acts were announced for the festival including hip-hop veterans Cypress Hill, Chance the Rapper, and Solange.

Citadel has taken place on the Sunday following Lovebox since 2015. Headline acts in Gunnersbury Park, 2018, included Tame Impala and CHVRCHES. In 2019, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Rag N' Bone Man and Friendly Fires will be the main acts. The festival also has non-musical content that offers a wider audience appeal, including for families.

Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, says: “It’s an exciting era for Gunnersbury Park and we’re pleased to be hosting both Lovebox and Citadel festivals for a second year this summer, for the enjoyment of the local community.

"The festivals are amongst the most popular events on the music calendar, not only in London, but across the country. Securing these events at Gunnersbury Park for another year puts both Hounslow and Ealing boroughs on the cultural map and builds our credibility as a venue at the cutting edge of contemporary music and culture."

He adds: “The not-for-profit Gunnersbury Estate Community Interest Company (CIC), which looks after the day-to-day operations and oversees the park’s educational, leisure and cultural opportunities has done a fantastic job so far and we excitedly anticipate another successful festival weekend later this year.”

Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, says: “Gunnersbury Park is an ideal venue for hosting large public events. It has undergone a hugely positive transition in recent years and hosting these festivals once again represents another boost for the park, further underlining our reputation as a place to see great live events.”

GW | Gunnersbury

Pictured: Lovebox and Citadel festivals are helping change perceptions of Hounslow.

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GW | Brentford FC

BEES BUZZING AS NEW STADIUM RISES Julia Etherington brings you an exclusive interview with Brentford FC's chairman, Cliff Crown. As the club prepares to move to its new home next year, a new state-of the art-stadium could help propel the team into the Premier League

B Above: the Brentford FC development will offer more than just football; right: the club's chairman Cliff Crown.

rentford Community Stadium has come along in leaps and bounds since a groundbreaking ceremony in March 2018 marked the start of construction work. Both the community and Brentford Football Club are buzzing about the exciting future it promises to bring. More than just a sports stadium, the development is at the heart of Hounslow Council’s plans to regenerate the area. The ambitious project promises to attract more visitors, pave the way for existing businesses to thrive and entice new business and investment to the area.

The stadium, which will house up to 17,250 fans, is currently on track to be completed by its target date of June 2020. The main stand at the south of the site is up, while the east and west are almost complete, the

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Right: south stand main entrance at Brentford Community Stadium below: Brentford FC are gunning for promotion.

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site is now beginning to look like a high quality sporting stadium.

There will be a new public square at the front of the stadium, intended to be a focal point for Hounslow, and 910 new homes to buy or rent in apartment buildings surrounding the site. While Brentford, who appointed Jon Varney (CORR) as chief executive in March, had previously unveiled plans to move mid-season, chairman Cliff Crown reveals they will now wait until the start of the 2020/21 football season. He says: “We made a conscious decision to move in the summer of 2020, as a mid-season move involved significant risk, with little commensurate benefit.”

When the club does move in, the hope is the new home could help propel the club into the Premier League. Crown adds: “I think moving to the new stadium will help us in our goal to reach the Premier League, but it’s very hard to quantify. There’s significant investment being made in all aspects of technology, lighting and broadcasting, it’s all very high-tech, both from a cabling and a connectivity perspective. We will be Premier League-ready. We’ve been pretty successful in attracting players to the football club, even with the current stadium, and of course some players will like the idea of playing in a new stadium with a larger crowd capacity and more fans turning up, but it’s not the main reason players come to Brentford.

The main reason is our reputation for developing young players and helping them grow and become better footballers and better people. The stadium itself won’t by definition help us get into the Premier League, but it’s part of a package that will entice players to come to us and help us achieve our objectives.”

The site of Griffin Park, Brentford FC’s home for the past 115 years, has outline planning permission for 75 new houses to be built once the club moves.

Crown explains why a move is integral to the club’s

We want to help young people from all backgrounds develop their skills

future. "The club is currently loss-making and the new stadium, which was first envisioned 15 or 16 years ago is all about moving towards sustainability,” he says. "We can’t always rely on a benefactor and therefore need to be in a position where we have more opportunity to be self-sustaining. A new stadium will help us towards achieving it.”

While Griffin Park currently provides hospitality packages for a maximum of 70 people, Brentford Community Stadium will be able to host up to 3,000.

Crown says: “Selling hospitality packages and premium seats to people in the new stadium at that level is a game-changer.” But he can’t rule out fans having to dig a little deeper for tickets. He says: “Inevitably there will be some increase for fans, but we are very focused on

GW | Brentford FC

affordable football at Brentford and so the cost to fans will still represent very good value and be affordable.”

A broader fan-base is key to the club’s future, says Crown. "We want to increase our fan base. The premium seats increase, in a very good part of London with a significant base of businesses will enable us to hopefully entice them into taking up those premium seats. We’ll be able to hold more away fans and as far as existing season-ticket holders are concerned, we will be able to accommodate more of them too.

"We are very keen to increase the number of female supporters and those from Asian and other ethnic communities, and a nice new stadium will hopefully encourage them to come and experience Brentford’s great style of football.”

I’m looking forward to being able to offer our fans the facilities they deserve 27

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As far as the club’s existing fans, Crown says: “I’d like to think that as far as our fans’ experience is concerned, the way in which they are welcomed to the stadium, and the way they arrive and depart will be as warm friendly and as family oriented as it is at Griffin Park.

"The one thing that will change will be the infrastructure. Instead of coming to a stadium that is 115 years old and all the character that is associated with an old stadium, it’s clearly not going to be that. It’s going to be a brand new stadium with its own design and its own character. The facilities will be far improved in every aspect, from the catering to the toilets to the amount of space people will have.

"Many fans are excited about the move, but some who have been going to Griffin Park for many years – since the 50s or 60s – feel very sad about the prospect of not coming back. They’ve been coming every other week for many years, so of course it's a huge wrench.

"I think the good thing is that fans understand why we have to do this and the importance for the club – and that financial sustainability is ultimately the only way we can secure its future.

GW | Brentford FC

"They understand it’s for the benefit of the club they love and I’m looking forward to being able to offer our fans the facilities they deserve.”

The club intends to hold a significant opening event at the stadium in July next year (2020). Crown says: “We’re currently at the early planning stages, but we will be looking at a big opening event. Most likely, we’ll be hosting a prestigious pre-season friendly against a well-known club, which hasn’t been agreed yet. Top of my dream list would be Barcelona or Real Madrid.

That would be pretty amazing. But what I’m most excited about is playing our first match in the Premier League; whether that’s in our first season there or subsequently. That for me is the ultimate dream.”

Last December, the club announced it would be sharing the stadium with rugby team London Irish.

Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, said: “I am delighted to hear the announcement that London Irish’s new home will be the new Brentford Community Stadium currently under construction.”

While Mick Crossan, owner and president of London Irish added: “We are delighted to be bringing London Irish back to west London and are really looking forward to playing at the new stadium when it opens in August 2020. We are very grateful for the support we have received from Brentford FC and Hounslow Council, through its leader, Steve Curran, who is, we know, very keen to explore the synergy between the two clubs, particularly in respect of the excellent community programmes we both have.”

Brentford FC have spent more than three decades working with their Community Sports Trust and is often

Above left and below: plans for the scheme; below left and above: the club has a strong community focus.

regarded as a football club that places community at the heart of its ethos. A new community hub is being built adjacent to the new stadium that will provide a multipurpose facility offering education, health and community engagement activities.

Trust CEO Lee Doyle says: “This is an exciting time, as a number of long-term plans are coming to fruition.

Working with the club, we are also a strategic partner at the extensive new Gunnersbury Park sports hub.

This will complement our stadium base, as well as linking to our boating arch at Kew Bridge. As a result, we will increase our sessions, of which there are currently over 6,000 annually, and will offer more opportunities to inspire people of all ages and abilities”.

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HOUNSLOW’S GOT TALENT Above and right: People Just Do Nothing; far right: Click and Collect, with Stephen Merchant and Asim Chaudhry.

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Hounslow’s arts scene is thriving. The borough’s commitment to investing in arts capacity and nurturing young talent received a boost last year with almost £1 million of further funding from Arts Council England’s Creative People & Places Programme, run by Watermans Art Centre. Meanwhile, a new generation of homegrown talent has emerged and is putting Hounslow in the national limelight. From the highly acclaimed spoof documentary, People Just Do Nothing, set in Brentford, to the televised adaptation of Ambreen Razia’s play, Hounslow Diaries, a new wave of local creative people are showcasing this west London borough on both stage and screen. Shailja Morris reports

27/02/2019 14:42

Merchant in the one-off festive farce, Click and Collect, which aired on BBC1 on Christmas Eve. He says: “I've been a huge fan of Stephen's work for years, so it's a dream to be working with him. I'm also over the moon about the fact my 10-year-old sister can finally watch something I'm in that's family friendly and wholesome.”

GW | Culture

T

he fifth and final series of the spoof documentary, People Just do Nothing, was aired last December on BBC2. From its humble beginnings as viral "webisodes" on YouTube, it went on to achieve cult status, gaining several plaudits along the way, including the 2017 Royal Television Society Award for Best Scripted Comedy and nominations for BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy in 2016 and 2017.

The creative local duo behind the sublime spoof documentary are Asim Chaudhry, who plays wheelerdealer ‘Chabuddy G’ and Hugo Chegwin starring as ‘DJ Beats'. Both grew up and still live in Hounslow. They met while studying at West Thames College 10 years ago where Chegwin studied performing arts and music technology, while Chaudhry studied media.

Together with Allan Mustafa, who plays ‘MC Grindah’ and Steve Stamp as ‘Steves’, the four are close friends in real life. In fact, in the late 2000s, Chegwin, Mustafa and Stamp had a "fake garage crew" on real-life station KuruptFM. Between them, they have written, produced and acted in the comedy series which follows the lives of a bunch of lovable losers running pirate station KuruptFM from a tower block in Brentford.

Chaudhry, who plays the station’s inept manager, is stunned by the sitcom’s success. “Our first BAFTA nomination was for series two, which was quite early, and that was just insane,” he says. Chegwin, who once delivered free newspapers around Brentford, adds: “I don’t think we were knowledgeable enough to understand how important those nominations were, but when we got the BAFTA, I was like, wow, that’s a big accomplishment.”

In the meantime, all four are busily working on separate projects. Stamp is currently writing a film spinoff from the series, while Chegwin is also a successful songwriter, having written hits for British superstars including Sam Smith and Emeli Sandé.

Chaudhry recently starred alongside Stephen

PLACE TO CHASE YOUR DREAMS He has also played alongside Benedict Cumberbatch on the BBC series Sherlock. His interviews in character as the irrepressible Chabuddy G provide a unique perspective of Hounslow.

A recent Saturday Live show on BBC Radio 4 involved a walkabout around Hounslow with Chabuddy.

Many of his tongue-in-cheek one-liners refer to Hounslow’s diverse population and the immigrant’s dream: “I came to Hounslow with just £5 cash in my pocket and look at me now.” Thanks to his entrepreneurial streak, and his gift for the “Hounslow hustle,” he’s now a local “bigshot.” Or, “Hounslow Heath was the first airport…it represents freedom, where you can chase your dreams.” On Hounslow’s diversity: “We have Asians, Albanians, Africans, Kosovans and we love it. People come to Hounslow and they come to make a living here. It is a community and there is real love.”

Another rising star from Hounslow is Renu Brindle, who played the formidable Mrs Iqbal in Hounslow Diaries, which was aired in December 2018 on BBC1.

The cast's line-up of stars, including Preeya Kalidas, who played Amira Masood in EastEnders and the

31

playwright and actress Ambreen Razia, who wrote the original play, Diary of a Hounslow Girl.

Brindle explains: “I grew up in Hounslow and still have family there, so I visit regularly. It’s a vibrant and exciting area, because it’s always changing due to the different migrant populations that want to live and work in and around the airport. The regeneration projects and the large multinational companies are attracting lots of young professionals as well. For the immigrant population, Hounslow is their first taste of the UK – it’s their safe haven in a new and unknown world. It’s a place where people come to make a better life for themselves - and they do.”

DIVERSE COMMUNITIES Given the huge young working population in Hounslow, Razia says: "It’s amazing to see the diverse communities grow and develop. The younger generations who were born here are pushing boundaries and trying to establish their cultural identity. This is reflected in Hounslow Diaries, which is essentially a comedy about first generation Muslim

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27/02/2019 14:42

GW | Culture

girls desperate to go clubbing in London. They reflect the melting pot that is Hounslow with their dress sense and their slang which has a bit of Jafaican thrown in for good measure. It’s an eye-opener as it definitely smashes stereotypes – with a lot of humour. As an Asian woman who grew up in Hounslow, the script really resonated with me.

“I live in Bristol now, but I love coming back to Hounslow. I love sampling the delicious street food that could be from anywhere around the world. And there’s a lot of free entertainment. I’ve enjoyed an open-air hip-hop show and a short play at Bell Square in the High Street. Further along the borough, you can take a stroll along Brentford Dock and go on to the Watermans Art Centre, maybe even visit a stately home or two. There is a lot to do and see in Hounslow.”

Below left: Hounslow Diaries; left: Renu Brindle; above and below: performances at Watermans Arts Centre.

people-focused art and culture development. It includes community arts organisations, a community development trust, Hounslow Music Service and the local authority. Activities have included launching the Hounslow Community Choir, developing arts hubs in the area, supporting small arts organisations with training and business support, and providing free, high-quality art and culture like the Winter Lights event and drop-in drama at Benson & Estridge estate.

CASH INJECTION CULTURE BOOST Thanks to the combined commitment of Watermans Art Centre and Hounslow Council to the creative sector, a further generation of talent could follow in the footsteps of these creative people. Hounslow’s 10-year vision to boost arts capacity includes the creation of new co-production spaces and activities, including a programme of large outdoor events and support for small and emerging creative businesses.

A cash injection of £997,063 from Arts Council England has enabled the continuation of the Hounslow Creative People and Places (CPP) programme until 2022.

The CPP programme is led by a consortium driven by Watermans Arts Centre and delivers

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27/02/2019 14:42

HOUNSLOW ON THE MAP

A312 A312 M4 M4 M4 M4

Osterley Osterley

Heathrow Heathrow T1,2,3 T1,2,3

Heathrow Heathrow T5T5

Hounslow Housing: Lampton Road

HEATHROW AIRPORT Heathrow Heathrow

Hatton Hatton Cross Cross

T4T4

Hounslow Hounslow West West

Hounslow Hounslow East East

Hounslow Hounslow Central Central

Hounslow Housing: School Road

HOUNSLOW HOUNSLOW

A315 A315

Feltham masterplan

Feltham Feltham A314 A314

A244 A244

A312 A312

A316 A316

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Hounslow Hounslow

Is Isle

GW | Projects

Acton Acton Town Town Stamford Stamford Brook Brook

Chiswick Chiswick Park Park

Boston Boston Manor Manor

Turnham Turnham Green Green

Brentford Brentford

Gunnersbury Gunnersbury

Brentford's major projects

A4A4

Kew Kew Bridge Bridge

A4A4 Great Great West West RdRd Great West Corridor

BRENTFORD BRENTFORD

Chiswick Chiswick

Syon Lane Syon Lane Isleworth Isleworth

RICHMOND RICHMOND

A310 A310

Distances from Hounslow (in hours by car) Edinburgh: 7 Manchester: 3.5 Birmingham: 2 Cardiff: 2.5 Bristol: 2

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Kings Cross

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GW | Projects

PROJECTS

BRENTFORD’S MAJOR PROJECTS Work is well under way to make Brentford one of the most desirable London locations, with a plethora of new housing projects at the heart of its regeneration.

Thousands of new homes are being built as plans to overhaul its once tired, industrial image into one where people can enjoy affordable housing, run successful businesses and enjoy all the cultural diversity and green space TW8 has to offer.

Several hundred new waterfront homes will be going on sale in Brentford within the next few years. Situated in a location benefiting from the Thames, the River Brent and Grand Union Canal, residents will also benefit from new restaurants, shops, cultural and sporting facilities.

The biggest development is from Irish housebuilder Ballymore, which plans to build almost 900 homes on a 9.5-ha waterside site between Brentford’s high street and the River Brent.

Plans also include 16,258sq m of shops, a cinema, supermarket, gym, leisure facilities and an arts centre.

Work to demolish existing buildings on the site began last October. Over 900 homes will be erected during the next seven years at the new 17,250-seater Brentford Community Stadium at Lionel Road. Positioned next to the elevated section of the M4 motorway, the stadium will be the home of Brentford Football Club and the London Irish rugby team next year.

Pictured: the Brentford FC stadium development project also includes plans for over 900 new homes.

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Developers Willmott Dixon and Ecoworld London will spend the next six to seven years completing the housing at the Lionel Road project, which will see the delivery of one, two and three-bedroom flats, a third of which will be rental properties. A residents’ lounge and dining areas, private gardens, a gym and a cinema will also feature.

Meanwhile, the current home of Brentford FC at Griffin Park, will be transformed into a small development of 75 homes when the team relocates in time for the 2020/21 season.

At Brentford Lock West, which will deliver a total of 520 contemporary flats and townhouses next to the Grand Union Canal, people began to move into the first homes available in 2014, while properties from phase two of the project are currently onsale, starting at ÂŁ410,000, with Help to Buy available on some.

The development started in 2012, and phase three is expected to start later this year, with a completion date of 2023. Its completion will not only see the canal path, popular with runners and cyclists widened, but also a new footbridge over the canal, cutting the walk to Brentford station to just 10 minutes.

With its open spaces, great commuter links into London and a glittering future in housing and retail ahead, Brentford has much to look forward to.

Elsewhere in Brentford, Catalyst and Redrow Homes have entered into a partnership agreement for around 450 homes in a mixed-use scheme on Capital Interchange Way in Brentford. It will feature a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and include shared ownership and "genuinely affordable homes".

The site is a five minute walk from Kew Bridge station. Alongside the new homes, the proposals also include commercial office and retail space.

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Pictured: schemes by Ballymore (above and below); Redrow Homes (right) and Ecoworld London (left).

GW | Projects

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HOUNSLOW HOUSING It’s only four years since Hounslow town centre was announced as one of the first ‘Housing Zones’ by the mayor of London, but two major projects have already delivered substantial outputs.

Thanks to an £18.5 million housing grant, the area is to reap the benefits of a regeneration plan to boost job and business growth and provide high quality and affordable housing with a total of 3,990 new homes by 2025.

LAMPTON ROAD One of two core sites receiving funding is the former Civic Centre site, where the council said half of the 919 homes will be affordable. The first phase was completed in January, with 160 properties for housing association Notting Hill Genesis.

The first residents were able to move in early in December 2018, with the rest of the units due to be finished by 2025.

SCHOOL ROAD A total of 284 homes, half of which the council said will be affordable, will be built at the School Road site. The first phase of 50 homes was finished last August.

Hounslow Town Primary School is enjoying its new building after moving in at the beginning of the new school year in September.

The school has increased the capacity of its reception intake by 60 pupils, to accommodate additional pupils from the new development. The former school buildings have been demolished for the second phase of the housing development which started in January and is due to be completed by March 2021.

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GW | Projects

Pictured: housing for Lampton Road (below), Hounslow Town Primary School (far below).

FELTHAM MASTERPLAN It has been years in the making, but work to transform Feltham is now under way.

After receiving Housing Zone status and the promise of funding which came with it in 2016, the Feltham masterplan was drawn up, detailing planned housing and improvements to take place in the area over the next 15 years.

In Station Quarter, developers Network Homes and Howarth Homes have started work on 66 homes at Fern Grove, due for completion in December 2020.

In November 2018, Tesco received a resolution to grant planning permission to develop 104 homes on a surplus car park at Manor Lane, while at the New Road car park, developer Fairview Homes will soon start on-site to deliver 120 new homes.

The council has been working closely with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to move forward on the redevelopment of the Feltham MoD site. The site is expected to be vacated in 2023 to make way for up to 1,300 homes and create a new ‘urban quarter’ for the town centre.

Plans are for a residential-led, mixeduse development, with properties including family housing, flexible commercial and office floorspace, local shops, publicly accessible open spaces, a secondary school, leisure and health facilities that will enhance the conservation area.

Network Rail is starting work on Feltham station, extending both platforms to accommodate more passengers.

Network Rail, TfL and the council are investing over £20 million to improve the station and bus interchange. Works started in May 2018 and will be finished by the end of 2020. They include a new bridge over the railway and a new station entrance that connects to a new bus interchange.

Feltham town centre is also undergoing major improvement work delivered in partnership with Hounslow Council and Transport for London.

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GREAT WEST CORRIDOR

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Hounslow’s Golden Mile has attracted global companies for decades. With its close proximity to Heathrow airport, the 2.4 miles of the A4 Great West Road, running from Gillette Corner to Chiswick Roundabout, has one of the capital’s great business arteries.

The area is a key driver of Hounslow’s economy, with 450 businesses and 24,000 jobs and global companies include Sky, GlaxoSmithKline, Allianz Insurance, EMC Limited, WorleyParsons and JC Decaux, making it no surprise the Great West Corridor has been identified as an opportunity area by the Mayor of London.

Hounslow Council launched consultation on its 15-year plan for this gateway corridor at MIPIM, where the world's property and regeneration leaders come together.

Head of spatial planning Danalee Edmund has been working on the masterplan, and said it is a very exciting time for the borough.

Edmund said: “The Great West Corridor is already home to some pretty major companies but what we have planned will completely transform the area.

"We are aiming for big housing numbers of 7,500 new homes, and 14,000 new jobs, and we are working on the masterplan for the whole area. We’re in talks with Transport for London (TfL) for a new station, an Elizabeth line shuttle to link the area to Southall, where you can be in London’s West End within 19 minutes and Canary Wharf in just 31 minutes, and the West London Orbital out to Brent Cross.

"We also want to improve walking and cycling, so the developments are being set back with wider pavements for people to walk and a cycle super highway to encourage people to get out of their cars.

What we’ve found is the area is quite fragmented, so we want to connect it to our existing neighbourhoods like Boston Manor and Brentford town centre."

"It's about bringing the right facilities and infrastructure into the area so that businesses want to move in. And with new shops, cafes, schools, a leisure centre, as well as access to our wonderful parks, and genuinely affordable housing, it’s going to attract a quality workforce too.

"It’s about making the area a desirable place for people to live and work. Hounslow is making things happen - we are committed to realising our big ambitions for the Great West Corridor and the west of the borough. We have strong working relationships with the mayor of London and Greater London Authority officers, and with our housing association and private development partners.

"Our sound governance, and proactive planning and development management arrangements enable swift and effective decisions. These are good times – Hounslow is making its future happen, today. I look forward to tomorrow”.

PROUD TO BE INVESTING IN HOUNSLOW A SELECTION OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS Chipping Ongar

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Cheshunt

Potters Bar M25

Radlett

Theydon Bois

M1

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Brentwood

Chigwell

Edgware

Northwood

Woodford Wood Green

Pinner

Walthamstow Harringay

Harrow

Ruislip

Brent Cross

Romford

Ickenham

M40

Hornchurch Ilford

Holloway

Wembley

Northolt

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Upminster

Stratford Dagenham

Barking Greenford

Rainham

Hayes Southall

M25

Kensington Heathrow Airport

M25

Canary Wharf

Westminster

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M4

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Hounslow

Stanwell

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Welling

TADWORTH, KT20

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THE STAR AND GARTER, TW1O

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15/02/2019 16:59

GW | Connectivity

ON THE RIGHT TRACK With an ambitious regeneration programme under way and plans for Heathrow’s expansion taking shape, Hounslow is rapidly evolving – and its transport infrastructure is set to grow with it. Shailja Morris reports

16:59

45

H

ounslow’s transport infrastructure has always been key to its success. The A4, running from Heathrow to central London via the Golden Mile is its main artery and lined with gleaming headquarters of global enterprises. Its proximity to the M4 and M25 continues to lure big businesses as well as tech start-ups. This 2.4-mile stretch currently accommodates more than 20,000 jobs and capacity for a further 14,000 new jobs and 5,200 new homes in the area has been identified by the Great West Corridor Masterplan and Capacity Study 2017.

Frequent bus and underground services also offer several routes to Heathrow or London, while the South Western Railway line heads straight into London Waterloo from Hounslow.

However, there is a strong appetite for new travel options centred on public transport. These are being driven, not just by Hounslow Council, but by companies such as Sky and GSK, looking to recruit staff living within a 60-minute commute of the Golden Mile, which increases the working population by 50%, or over a million adults.

Plans for a new station at Transport Avenue, Brentford, between GSK and Sky’s Headquarters are currently being reviewed by the Department for Transport. The station would connect with Southall via a new passenger rail service using a disused freight line and could be operational by 2021/22. The first stage of the line would be between Southall, GSK and Sky.

46

Pictured: Hounslow Council is providing the infrastructure to improve vital transport networks.

A possible second phase would include an onward link to Brentford rail station on the South Western Railway network by 2030.

Mark Frost, head of transport at Hounslow Council, says: “Southall station will be served by the Elizabeth line, which, as well as serving central London, goes to Reading and along the airport corridor and beyond.

It opens up a huge range of new travel options for commuters and residents from Hounslow, who are likely to currently make their journeys to places like Sky and GSK by car.”

The council is also working with Sky to develop a link allowing people to access Sky’s main campus in

GW | Connectivity

MacFarlane Lane from Boston Manor tube station on the Piccadilly line. A 750m long boardwalk is being considered to reduce the walking time of the existing 2.5km journey by a third.

Also, in design phase is Cycle Superhighway 9 along the A315. This £70 million investment is initially proposed to run from Hammersmith to Brentford via Chiswick, before extending on to Hounslow.

Plans for the 11-mile West London Orbital railway connecting Hounslow train station with the proposed HS2 hub at Old Oak Common and up to Cricklewood, are also on track. The line involves extending and recommissioning the current Dudding Hill freight line for passenger use. The business case is currently being developed by TfL in association with the West London Alliance.

To the far west of the borough, at Bedfont Lakes Business Park, there are proposals to create a railway link between Feltham and T5 with a station in Bedfont. Frost expands: “The station would underpin a comprehensive regeneration in that area – the Heathrow Gateway Business Park. This would be situated opposite the existing Bedfont Lakes Business Park at Clockhouse Lane and would help unlock the potential for housing development in that area. Options are under review by the Department for Transport.”

On the South Western Rail network, commuters travelling from Hounslow to London Waterloo will

benefit from two additional semi-fast services per hour on the South Western Railway line from early summer. At Feltham station, meanwhile, platforms have been extended to accommodate longer trains.

Road infrastructure along the High Street is also being upgraded to improve bus and cycle lanes and pedestrian walkways.

Underground services are also set to receive a boost. Frost says: “The aim is to increase capacity by 60%. At the moment there are around 20 trains per hour running on the Piccadilly line, compared to around 35 on the Victoria line. One of the reasons is that the current Piccadilly line rolling stock is from the 1970s. New rolling stock will be introduced from the early 2020s, providing newer, faster trains with extra capacity, stronger engines and better signalling.

It will be a more comfortable experience with faster and more frequent trains and be ready in time for the Elizabeth line, which will extract demand.”

Pictured: accessible cycling provision is a priority in Hounslow, with plans to boost biking for the borough.

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HOUNSLOW: A SNAPSHOT

has 450 businesses employing 24,000 people

Gunnersbury Park has 21 Grade II and II* listed buildings 48

Hounslow is one of the first councils to recognise that pollution is a public health issue

Council pledges 5,000 new affordable homes by 2022

GW | Markets

ÂŁ70m

Brentford Community Stadium on track for April 2020 finish

Over 15,000 streetlights have been replaced

Hounslow parks and open spaces awarded Green Flag

Hounslow Heath, covering more than 80 hectares, is one of largest nature reserves in London

Lovebox and Citadel festivals attract

Last summer saw a threeweek season of cinema, with 55,000 people in attendance

110,000 music fans every year 49

GOOD NEIGHBOURS

Heathrow has been running a series of innovative design workshops, enabling local residents to have their say on its emerging expansion plans. Called Heathrow and Your Neighbourhood, the events are seeing a team of architects and artists-in-residence bring to life the key infrastructure improvements and help mitigate the impact of an extended airport. Shailja Morris reports Pictured: plans for expansion at Heathrow Airport have the support of the government.

50

B

eing a good neighbour is not always easy if you’re one of the world’s busiest airports with ambitious plans for expansion.

Heathrow, however, has always made community collaboration a priority. In addition to its quarterly Local Focus Forum, Community Noise Forum and the newly launched Heathrow Community Engagement Board, Heathrow hosts ad hoc events to make sure local views are heard and taken on board.

Earlier this year, the airport went beyond traditional engagement methods with a series of community

design workshops. These saw architects and on-site artists working with local residents to illustrate and refine proposals across a range of mitigation options.

Noise and visual screening were included, with the enhancement of public spaces, better transport links and facilities that could benefit local communities.

Residents living along the airport perimeter, in villages and towns including Cranford, Heston, Bedfont and Feltham provided their input into design improvements. Heathrow will be pumping millions of pounds into improving the local environment through

its expansion, following the government’s approval of a £14 billion plan to build a third runway last June.

Of the 76,500 people directly employed at the airport, the majority are drawn from communities living on the airport’s doorstep. A third runway and Heathrow’s expansion will generate thousands of jobs and apprenticeships, as well as driving improvements to transport and road networks.

Heathrow’s expansion will deliver: • 40,000 job opportunities for the local community.

• 5,000 additional apprenticeships, bringing the total to 10,000 by 2030.

• Skilled, local experts for infrastructure projects.

• Trade and export opportunities for local businesses.

Feedback from the events will help inform the airport’s masterplan for expansion, which will be worked into a submission for a Development Consent Order in 2020. If approved, the airport would obtain planning permission in 2021, followed by the first planes taking off in 2026 from the new runway.

As Rob Gray, Heathrow’s community and stakeholder relations director, explains: “With investment worth millions of pounds to improve community facilities, transport links and the road networks, the proposed

GW | Heathrow

expansion of Heathrow provides a unique opportunity to build a long-term and sustainable legacy for our neighbours. It is important that we develop our proposals in collaboration with those that stand to be most impacted by it.

“The events were well-attended, with around 200 local residents taking part. They offered valuable insight into how we can make better use of local land and how we can improve transport links and actually make it easier for people to travel and get into work.

If we’re going to have to move a road somewhere or build a new car park, what would this mean for them?

They might think the changes could be worse for them, but these could actually improve links into the airport and into central London, for example.

Gray concludes: “The workshops are an example of the best of class engagement opportunities that we offer to local residents. We haven’t always got it right in the past, which is why the Heathrow Community Engagement Board has been set up – to make sure we consult properly. It is important to show the local community what our preferred masterplan is, have their input, and take it into account before we put forward our DCO submission in the middle of 2020.”

The proposed expansion of Heathrow provides a unique opportunity

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Great West Great West Investment destination: HOUNSLOW partners group Joining together to support Hounslow Bugler James Chell jameschell@bugler.co.uk Child Graddon Lewis Simon Child simon.child@cgluk.com DP9 David Morris david.morris@dp9.co.uk Inner Circle Jamie Ounan jounan@innercircleconsulting.co.uk Linkcity General enquiries info@linkcity.com Sitematch London Jake Westhead jake@3foxinternational.com Sky Diana Foxlee diana.foxlee@sky.uk WOW London Paul Gussar paul@3foxinternational.com 3Fox International Sue Mapara sue@3foxinternational.com

For more information about these companies, visit greatwestlondon.com/directory

GW | Cleaner, greener

CLEANER, GREENER, HEALTHIER HOUNSLOW

Hounslow is one of the first local authorities in the country to designate pollution as a public health issue. And it is doing everything it can to tackle the problem. Becky Dearden investigates

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ounslow is already one of the bestconnected boroughs in London. Its first-rate road and rail connections, as well as its proximity to the UK’s busiest airport, attract businesses and commuters alike.

Its position as one of London’s biggest and busiest gatekeepers, being home to one of its major arteries, the Great West Road, brings investment and opportunity in abundance. But it also brings many

Pictured: reducing the number of cars has the potential to make Hounslow's streets cleaner and safer.

challenges, including more than 100,000 vehicles a day onto its roads. By revolutionising how it thinks about transport, the environment and health, Hounslow Council is tackling these challenges head-on, to ensure the borough is "cleaner, greener and healthier" in 2019 and beyond. This ambitious new strategy starts with traffic and pollution. In the UK, air pollution is thought to cause and contribute to as many as 40,000 deaths a year and cost £157 million in health and social care.

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It’s a global problem, and one that is moving up the international agenda. Only last year, the United Nations and World Health Organisation made pollution the fifth major risk factor in developing non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, alongside smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol abuse and unhealthy diets.

But it is also a problem with local solutions – as Hounslow Council is proving. For decades, air pollution has been seen as just an environmental issue. But by recognising that up to 200 deaths a year in the borough may be caused by pollution, Hounslow has become one of the first local authorities in the UK to designate it as a public health issue.

As well as giving health officials a greater voice in tackling pollution, the change will ensure that the issue - which London mayor Sadiq Khan has described as a ‘public health crisis’ - gets given the attention it deserves. A simple solution for reducing pollution focuses on the need to get people out of petrol and diesel vehicles. But encouraging people to do this around the world is a difficult task. Hounslow Council is tackling this by investing heavily to ensure all areas of the borough are connected by public transport – especially as much-needed houses are built.

Plans are under way to link the borough to the Elizabeth line, the multibillion pound railway, which will connect Hounslow and particularly the growth area around Brentford’s ‘Golden Mile’, to Berkshire in the west and Essex in the east. In addition, the council’s proposal for Southern Rail access to Heathrow would

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include a station near Bedfont Lakes Business Park, and will reduce journey times to the airport from across south London - getting airport passengers and Heathrow workers out of their cars.

This will also unlock space for further regeneration in the Heathrow opportunity area. These are not the only new rail links set to benefit Hounslow. In cooperation with the mayor of London and other local authorities, plans have been put in place to revive the Dudding Hill line, which has not carried regular passenger trains for more than 100 years. The new West London Orbital service will connect Hounslow with Cricklewood and Hendon via Old Oak, Neasden

GW | Cleaner, greener

Far left: cycling and outdoor gyms in Hounslow; left: there are plans to double the number of electric car charging points.

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that. Businesses trying to win a council contract will be given preferential treatment if they can prove their company and its products or services are sustainable.

As they encourage us to abandon our cars, the council is determined to make the pavements we tread more pleasant - and litter free.

CHEWING UP THE GUM

and Brent Cross. Mark Frost, the council’s head of transport, says: “The council is committed to getting people out of cars and onto public transport to tackle pollution and congestion, but we know the current network doesn’t provide the connectivity that some people need in order to make that change.

"That’s why we are pushing for three new rail links and also lobbying the Department for Transport and Transport for London to accelerate future planned improvements on the Piccadilly line and South Western Railway services, which are currently delayed.

These improvements to the rail network will not only make things better for existing residents, but also provide the space necessary on the network to deliver on our ambitious growth and regeneration plans."

TACKLING POLLUTION HEAD ON

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Other measures being introduced to help tackle pollution include free or discounted residents parking permits for those with cars producing emissions of less than 50g of carbon dioxide, with a feasibility study to be carried out by the end of 2019 to see if similar discounts could be offered for all on-street parking.

There are also plans to double the number of EV and lamp post charging points by 2020 – and provide 20 rapid chargers and new segregated cycle paths across the borough, linking the town centres.

Fines of up to £60 for motorists who leave engines running while stationary are also to be introduced, with a particular focus on enforcement in taxi ranks and coach parks. Measures such as a parking surcharge for diesel vehicles – which adds an extra £50 per year to the cost of a yearly parking permit for drivers of diesel cars - have already come into force.

While much of the focus will be on measures to reduce traffic pollution, the council’s plans go beyond

Top among the targets is the scourge of shoes everywhere - chewing gum. Britons are the second largest consumers of chewing gum in the worldmindlessly munching on 100,000 tons of the sticky stuff every year. But too often the mindlessness extends to how the gum is disposed of: 95% of UK streets are stained with it, and councils spend £60 million a year trying to prise it from the pavements, pushing up business rates and council tax.

Now, a collaboration between Hounslow Council and an innovative new company called Gumdrop is seeking to change this, giving people an environmentally friendly way, not only to bin their gum, but to recycle it.

You may not think there are many uses for a chewed bit of gum. You would be surprised. But then, you would also probably be surprised to learn that it contains the same stuff you find in bicycle inner tubes. But that’s what makes it such a valuable - and recyclable – product. Gumdrop’s bins (right) are the first in the world not only to be designed specifically for the

GW | Cleaner, greener

The right design can change the way people behave

disposal of waste chewing gum but are also made with waste chewing gum themselves.

The company houses a closed-loop recycling process designed to both educate and inspire the public into giving gum a second life. Its bright pink bins are so eye catching, they alone have been shown to reduce chewing gum litter by up to 46%.

Deposited gum is sent to a recycling facility where unwanted material, such as paper or sweet wrappers is filtered out before the gum is ground into pieces and mixed with other recycled plastics. The mixture containing the old chewing gum is then put into an injection moulding machine, where it is heated and ejected as a paste, which can be moulded into new objects as it cools. The proportion in the mixture varies, but each object Gumdrop makes contains a minimum of 20% chewing gum.

Products currently made with used chewing gum include: coffee mugs, wellington boots, lunch boxes and reusable cutlery. All the items can themselves be recycled. Anna Bullus, founder of Gumdrop, explains the aim behind the venture: "The right design can change the way people behave. If we’re able to make people change such a small habit, then we’ve got more chance of solving some of the other problems we face.”

So the next time you throw your chewing gum away - instead of getting stuck on the sole of a shoe, thanks to Gumdrop and its partnership with Hounslow Council - it could be what the soles of your next pair of shoes are made from.

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WELL CATERED FOR

Pictured: SEGRO and DO & CO are developing Heathrow's largest inflight catering facility.

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EGRO and catering company DO & CO have joined forces to develop Heathrow airport’s largest in-flight catering facility, which is predicted to create up to 1,000 jobs.

Scheduled for completion in autumn 2019, the 15,979sq m warehouse is the largest letting in SEGRO’s Greater London portfolio. Located at SEGRO Park Heathrow, it will be used for production and distribution for DO & CO’s airline catering.

Headquartered in Vienna, DO & CO’s worldwide service focuses on continental Europe, USA and Asia.

The new facility will help springboard the caterer’s plans to boost its UK operation. Last autumn, it secured a major contract with British Airways to provide catering for all flights from Heathrow after 2020. It currently provides meals for British Airways on its Club Europe and Club World flights to JFK in New York.

Gottfried Neumeister, chief operations officer at DO & CO, says: “This new facility is integral to the growth of our business in the UK, not only providing the UK and international connectivity we need, but also placing us in close proximity to our airline customers. We see this as another milestone in our ongoing commitment to our UK business and feel we have found a real partner for our UK growth vision in SEGRO.” For asset manager and property developer, SEGRO, the partnership will help it expand its portfolio across Hounslow. Partnership development director, Neil Impiazzi, says: “We signed a 25-year lease with DO & CO last autumn and we’re thrilled to have them as part of our Greater London portfolio. It is also great news for Hounslow that DO & CO is expanding its presence. The business is keen to gain a strong foothold in Hounslow and create job opportunities."

Work started on-site in November 2018. SEGRO is looking to hand over to DO & CO in autumn 2019 when

it will embark on a fit-out programme. The target is to be fully operational by the end of 2019.

SEGRO has eight estates in Hounslow. All are located within a mile of the Heathrow Cargo Terminal and provide excellent connectivity both domestically by road – with the M4, A40, M40, M25 and M3 all within easy reach – and internationally via the airport.

Local occupiers include DHL, Toll Group, Geodis, XPO, Allens Catering and Flights Hallmark.

North Feltham Trading Estate has seen two new signings, both for 10 years: Options, an events company, which will occupy a 2,824sq m industrial unit at 602 Central Way, serving as its UK headquarters, and UK-based logistics company, Uniserve, which has agreed terms to occupy 4,923sq m at Central House.

Impiazzi says: “Hounslow is an attractive location for industrial occupiers and business investment. It offers huge opportunities. DO & CO, for example, is near Hatton Cross, an area with direct access to the airport.

"Much of Hounslow's industrial presence is to the south because of the cargo centre. We’ve been in Hounslow for decades. It is a great location for our customers and with potential expansion, it would be an area where we would certainly be investing more.

"Hounslow has a great opportunity to really modernise its industrial infrastructure. As a company, we are trying to identify the next site to modernise the quality of the space. The community is important to us and we run regular skills workshops with the aim of helping local people get back into work.

“Hounslow Council works hard with the community. through its business and economic forums. It works with a number of developers and businesses to find ways to collaborate to maximise opportunities, which ultimately benefit residents in the conurbations around the airport.”

Heathrow expansion means 10,000 apprenticeships.

With expansion, and working with the Heathrow Skills Taskforce, we will help to ensure more young people are trained for the careers of the future.

Heathrow expansion is part of the plan to strengthen Britain’s future. That’s why we are getting on with delivering Britain’s new runway.

Located on the banks of the Grand Union Canal, Brentford Lock West, has already delivered 307 stunning new homes over two phases. A final phase that includes 452 affordable and private homes, along with commercial space, a new public bridge and a bus depot is also due to start in 2019.

The scheme has been designed to recognise the area’s former waterside industrial heritage, while offering stylish and unique homes focused around a sense of community. To find out more about the scheme and available homes, visit: www.brentfordlockwest.co.uk

The number of apprenticeships across the airport would double with expansion, taking the total to 10,000 in the period to 2030.

For more information and the facts on this advert please visit: www.heathrowexpansion.com/local-community/job-opportunities/

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Brentford Lock West is being delivered by Waterside Places - a joint venture between urban regeneration specialists, Muse Developments and the Canal & River Trust - that specialises in unlocking Britain’s waterways through intelligent design and a forward-thinking approach to BRENTFORD: urban renaissance.

ATKINS, ONE OF THE MANYAwww.watersideplaces.com BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT HEATHROW EXPANSION PREMIER SETTING

18/02/2019 13:07

HOUNSLOW WEST Great West Investment destination: Hounslow

A NEW HEATHROW GATEWAY

Issue 8 2019

www.hounslow.gov.uk

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Great West Investment destination:

HOUNSLOW

BRENTFORD: A PREMIER SETTING

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