Issue One Summer 2014
West London
A NEW COMMUNITY FOR UXBRIDGE AT ST ANDREW’S PARK
Around 1,300 new homes will be delivered, alongside a primary school, 40-acre public park, office park, theatre and community facilities. www.standrewsuxbridge.com www.stmodwen.co.uk
Issue One Summer 2014
St. Modwen’s £150 million regeneration of the former RAF Uxbridge site is creating a sustainable new community.
Recordplayer The Old Vinyl Factory – chart topper in Hayes
We’re proud to be investing in an exciting future for Hillingdon
We’re proud to be investing in an exciting future for Hillingdon vv
The Old Vinyl Factory – a 17 acre, £250m mixeduse development by Cathedral and Development Securities, will see the old EMI site in Hayes transformed into a thriving new neighbourhood. — 642 new homes — 750,000 sq ft of commercial space — A new town centre: 60,000 sq ft of leisure and retail space with a Vue cinema — £11m manufacturing start-up support facility backed by The Mayor of London — Landscaped streets and squares
FIND OUT MORE AT THEOLDVINYLFACTORY.COM
ENQUIRIES:
www.savills.com 020 7499 8644
www.pilcherhershman.co.uk 020 7399 8600
www.altus-edwinhill.com 017 5368 9000
London. We’ve got it covered. Bellway is the UK’s fourth largest housebuilder with 15 regional offices across the country. Since being formed in 1946 the Bellway Group have provided more than 100,000 homes and currently employs over 1400 people from Scotland to Cornwall. Bellway North London is based in Ruislip and has developments throughout West London, Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Our homes are designed, built and marketed by local teams working closely with the local communities to ensure we provide house designs with a strong regional identity in tune with the local vernacular. For further information on Bellway Homes and our involvement in your area, please call:
01895 671 100
OPENING 19TH JULY Chiswick Point, Chiswick A landmark building consisting of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments adjacent to Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve.
NEW FOR 2015 Drayton Garden Village, West Drayton A range of 2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes to suit every lifestyle.
NOW OPEN First Central, Park Royal 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments with great transport links, affordable London living.
COMING SOON WestSide, Brentford 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments, continuing the regeneration of Brentford.
www.bellway.co.uk Prices correct at time of going to press. Specification on site may differ. Pictures for illustration purposes only.
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Editorial director Siobhán Crozier Head of design Rachael Schofield Art direction Kate Harkus Designers Katrin Smejkal, Smallfury Design Contributing editors Sarah Herbert, Lucy Purdy Chief reporter James Wood Director Paul Gussar Business development manager Rory Kettles Office manager Sue Mapara Subscriptions manager Simon Maxwell Managing director Toby Fox Cover Image The Old Vinyl Factory – Cathedral Group Images London Borough of Hillingdon, Libi Pedder, Cathedral Group, Page 49: © LHR Airports Limited see photolibrary.heathrow.com, Peter Marlow / Magnum Photos, St George, © Crossrail Ltd, Ballymore, Segro, London Heathrow Airport, Brunel University, Uxbridge College, Robert Bosch, Stockley Park, Apple, Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd, St Modwen, Lomito, Namaste Lounge. Printed by Bishops Printers Published by 3Fox International Ltd 375 Kennington Lane London SE11 5QY 020 7978 6840 3foxinternational.com London Borough of Hillingdon Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UW Subscriptions and feedback hillingdonmagazine.com © 3Fox International Limited 2014. 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 forbidden. 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 responsibility for omissions or errors. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of 3Fox International Limited.
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Contents 6 News A summary of stories on regeneration and economic development in Hillingdon. 10 Quality of life We look at the appeal for investors and residents alike. From quality of life to enterprise: Hillingdon offers pull factors in droves. 17 employment Coca-Cola, Hertz, Robert Bosch, Xerox, United Biscuits and many more are already here. We find out what keeps them coming. 24 projects What’s going up in the borough – and where the action is happening. 36 education and skills Skills take centre stage in Hillingdon.
41 town centres Town centres offer a thriving retail mix – and much more. 46 markets Fast facts which help to explain why the borough is such a magnet for new investment. 49 connectivity Whether it is business connections in the UK, London’s heady buzz or far-flung shores to be accessed via Heathrow, Hillingdon has the connections you need. 52 Sitematch We look at a prime opportunity site available in the borough.
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News
Libraries refurbished, use increases Hillingdon is the only local authority in the country to run a complete library refurbishment and rebuild programme. Completed with the opening of Uxbridge Library, services at all 17 of the borough’s libraries are being upgraded, with extra books, Starbucks coffee facilities and extended opening hours. This comes at a time when many councils are closing or downgrading facilities.
Hillingdon Council leader, Councillor Ray Puddifoot, said the transformation of Uxbridge Library was nothing short of spectacular: “In the space of a year we have transformed a worn-out but well used facility into a state-of-the-art library fit for the 21st century.” A marked increase in visitor numbers has been seen at the borough’s libraries following rebuild or refurbishment.
One flyover the rail bridge Work on a rail bridge in Stockley over the Great Western Main Line – which will connect Crossrail and Heathrow Express services with the existing Great Western Main Line – is now complete. The flyover will improve connectivity into central London when Crossrail is operational in 2019, with the route passing through the capital’s main commercial and financial districts in the centre of the city. From Heathrow, passengers will be able to reach Bond Street in 26 minutes and Canary Wharf in 40. A force equivalent of that needed
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to lift 115 London taxis supports the bridge by two jacks, while 20 wheels and Teflon sheets were also used to help launch it. Matthew White, surface director at Crossrail, said: “Launching a thousand tonne bridge over the Great Western Main Line is quite a feat of engineering and one that I’m sure would have made Brunel proud. “The new flyover at Stockley is an essential part of our works in west London, ensuring that the network has enough capacity to run frequent services to and from Heathrow.”
Council support for businesses A pavement plaque has been unveiled to celebrate the refurbishment of Ruislip Manor high street. Improvements are benefiting the local shops and services in the form of increased footfall and takings. The number of empty shops has been reduced and the existing businesses have invested near to £60,000 in the shop front grant scheme. Lighting has also been installed on the railway bridge over Victoria Road. Harefield village is next in line for a full refurbishment and shop front grants will be offered to traders in Oak Farm, Hillingdon, and at the bottom end of Uxbridge High Street. Councillor Douglas Mills, cabinet member for community, commerce and regeneration, said: “The improvements we have made so far have given residents a town centre they can be proud of. “New businesses have come into these areas and more people are now shopping locally, which is a good thing for the borough’s economy.” See page 41 for a feature on town centres. issue 1 summer 2014
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From records to research
From EMI to ly p p u s g n i s u o h
has been approval Planning -use r a mixed te, granted fo t at the Gatefold si n e m ry develop inyl Facto he Old V close to T e built in Hayes. mes will b d as o h 0 13 d se Aroun as once u , which w el at the site rters of record lab a u q ction d u a d e the h MV pro H n a s a ll e dios EMI, as w cturing ra r manufa fo e tr n e c . ision sets re and telev also featu l il w t c je ro of p e m h T ity roo commun d n m a sq fe 2 a ac s a 38 , as well a a re 340sq m a y and a pla workshop . n for childre
The Central Research Laboratory (CRL) at The Old Vinyl Factory in Hayes is to receive an award of £3 million, confirmed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on 13 June for Brunel University’s Catalyst bid, ‘Making the Future’. The bid was submitted through the university’s partnership with Cathedral Group and will enable the development of an innovation centre – the CRL – on the former EMI site. Cathedral Group is providing the building and £7.7 million has been allocated to the project from the mayor’s office, from a fund to support regeneration schemes and business support initiatives in the capital. Councillor Douglas Mills, Hillingdon Council’s cabinet member for community, commerce and regeneration, said: “With this investment, the aim to bring 4,000 new jobs to Hayes over the next few years is now becoming a reality.” The Central Research Laboratory will contribute to this aspiration. It is due to open in July 2105, set to create hundreds of jobs in Hayes and provide manufacturing startups with technical infrastructure and business services.
It will comprise office and studio accommodation for startup, early stage and established businesses. A fabrication and prototype production facility will be available to SMEs, Brunel graduates and students, along with those from a consortium of six partner universities. As well as accommodation and facilities, Brunel alumni will have access to investment, business and technical mentoring and support, including a focus on sustainable development and international markets.
Asda to begin construction
Public support Hayes scheme
Building work has begun on a new 8,000sq m Asda superstore in Hayes. The store is located on Millington Road, on land owned by British Steel Pension Fund and is expected to open in 2015, creating 300 jobs. BAM Construction has been selected as contractor for the scheme.
Public consultations on Hillingdon Council’s plans to regenerate Hayes town centre have received strong support. Grant funding of £4.5 million from Transport for London was received at the end of 2013 for the project. The council then opened discussions with residents and businesses over details of the proposals. The 652 responses showed widespread
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backing for plans to provide more 30-minute free “stop and shop” parking, as well as support for revamping the bridge along Station Road, safer cycle paths, removal of the central reservation in Coldharbour Lane and a modern stage to replace the town’s existing bandstand. Residents also indicated better shops, less traffic and more parking as desirable improvements within Hayes.
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News Brunel for business Following a £300 million investment, Brunel University recently won the award for Best Business Meeting Venue in the West London Business Awards 2013. The university offers a range of conference and event facilities for up to 1,500 delegates with accommodation all year round and extended options available at weekends and during the
summer months, all in one complex. Brunel’s deputy commercial director, Rekha Haughton, said: “Brunel is an ideal venue for conferences and events, as it is located next door to Heathrow airport, within two miles of the M25, M4 and M40 motorways and only 20 minutes from central London by train. “Brunel offers a residential, all encompassing, state-of-the-art conference venue with good options for delegate downtime such as wellness and wellbeing and in a learned environment.”
Investmen
t in schoo
Uxbridge College’s £6.2m development Uxbridge College’s new £6.2 million development has opened. Contractors SDC modernised the original refectory – which doubled in size – and added new plumbing workshops, classrooms and offices. Hillingdon Council helped fund the workshops, where students acquire practical skills in ‘mini bathrooms’. The development was supported with £2 million from the Skills Funding Agency, with remaining costs met through college funds.
Hillingdon Cou ncil is embark ing on a rebuild of Nor thwood Scho ol in the north of the boroug h, which will in crease its capacity to 90 0 pupils. The brand new secondary scho ol is set to op en in 2016. It has an estim ated cost of £2 8 million, with the coun cil providing £2 1.6 million and £6.4 million fro m central gove rnment. The rebuild of Northwood co mplements the council’s £1 50 million prim ary school building prog ramme. Counc illor David Simmonds, de puty leader an d cabinet member for ed ucation and ch ildren’s services, said: “I’m delighted for the children, pare nts and staff at N orthwood, who will have a brand new sc hool.
ls
“Providing qu ality school pl aces for pupils near where they liv e is an absolute priorit y for the coun ci l an d this announcemen t once again sh ows that we are delivering on our pledge to put our residents of al l ages, first.” Work is progre ssing on the co uncil’s primary school building prog ra m m e – the largest of its kin d in London – which will create 6,500 additional plac es across the borough. Betw een Septembe r 2011 and September 20 14 extra facilit ie s and new classrooms ar e being added to a total of 28 schools, w ith two new pr im ar y schools due to open in September 20 14 an d a third in September 2015.
Segro-Whitbread project to create 60 jobs Developer partners Segro and Whitbread have received detailed planning consent for an 80-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and Beefeater Grill restaurant in Uxbridge. Work is set to start in July on the final phase of development at the 16,000sq m 501 Riverside Way site, home to Bosch,
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Manpower, Monster Energy, Kommerling UK and Aristocrat Technologies. Around 60 jobs will be created at the hotel and restaurant, when the project completes in June 2015. Alan Holland, Segro’s business unit director for Greater London, said:
“Together with our new industrial unit, the development will revitalise the high quality environment of Riverside Way, and boost the availability of business amenity space, enhancing its attractiveness to local businesses and prospective customers.” issue 1 summer 2014
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Now open: our new Terminal 2. Because one ‘best terminal in the world’ isn’t enough.
T5: voted ‘Best Terminal in the World’ 2012, 2013 and 2014. The new T2: open and ready to do the honours.
Visit heathrow.com/t2
Quality of Life
linked in Connected for business, made for living: Hillingdon is an ideal spot for enterprise as well as an enviable quality of life. eyes are turning to Hillingdon with enthusiasm, discovers Lucy Purdy
H
illingdon’s history is peppered with green spaces and famous faces: timber from Ruislip Woods is said to have been used in the building of Windsor Castle, and George Orwell and Alexander Fleming lived and worked in the borough in their day. Nowadays, more than 10,000 VAT registered businesses call Hillingdon home, the likes of Coca-Cola, Hasbro, GlaxoSmithKline and Rackspace making use of the borough’s excellent transport links, multi-skilled workforce and awardwinning educational facilities. Now, the call is going out that Hillingdon is ready for more: with several business parks and development opportunities present and on the horizon, there is plenty of scope for further investment. As well as the council, major public sector employers are RAF Northolt, Brunel University and Harefield and Hillingdon hospitals. As the home of Heathrow Airport, Hillingdon is London’s gateway to the world, and the refreshingly verdant spot – 43% of which is green belt – shares its borders with Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hounslow, Ealing and Harrow.
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So what is it about this borough – London’s second largest by area – that makes it such an attractive destination, for businesses and people? Peter Lawrence, director at Lawrence Rand estate agent, believes the answer is nestled somewhere in Hillingdon’s connectedness to London coupled with its lush and open feel. “Hillingdon, made up of several
‘urban villages’ is fantastic for people looking to settle down,” he says. “Each has its own individual community feel which is really attractive. This, coupled with its rich history, excellent schools and fantastic transport links into central London and the home counties, the area consistently remains very popular with families and professionals alike.” issue 1 summer 2014
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Top and bottom right – The sun shines on Ruislip Lido.
Green Living
“Parks and open spaces are in abundance with several parts of the area backing on to green belt land,” explains Lawrence. In fact, Hillingdon boasts 24 green flags – more than any other local authority in the country – covering 543 hectares of land. The council runs a slew of community events such as Hayes Carnival, Medfest (a Medieval hillingdon
issue 1 summer 2014
Centre right – Hilingdon Sports and Leisure Complex. Above left and left – As the home of Heathrow Airport, Hillingdon is London’s gateway to the world.
Quality of Life festival) and Artsweek. The borough’s leisure facilities also prove a huge draw, including Uxbridge cricket ground – which stages county cricket games, the 50-metre pool and lido in Uxbridge, a year-round calendar of events at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit at Minet Country Park, and BMX track at Lake Farm Country Park – where the Hayes Hawks, one of the nation’s leading BMX teams, base themselves. Gyms abound in this corner of London too. Hillingdon Council has ploughed money into refurbishing fitness centres in recent years, completing its £60 million investment in state-of-the-art leisure facilities across the borough this year and now boasting some of London’s best. “Uxbridge leisure centre is testament to this,” explains Lawrence, “and is extremely popular throughout the year with its gym and fitness classes, and the opening of the outdoor swimming pool has seen a surge in popularity of visitors to the area in the summer months, as well as a steady flow from the local area.”
Well connected
For Ian Dobie, managing director at St George West London, Hillingdon’s connectedness is allimportant. St George’s significant investment in the area has blazed a trail for other developers. The company’s Parkwest scheme at West Drayton, a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses set in an award-winning landscaped garden, boasts a location ideal for commuters, students and international travellers alike. The M4 and M25 are just a couple of miles away, as is Heathrow. West Drayton station offers direct links to London with trains to Paddington taking 25 minutes, and will also feature on the Crossrail network, offering commuters from Parkwest fast, direct connections to
‘hillingdon is a vibrant area i that benefits from excellent employment opportunities, i education, green space and i travel infrastructure’ i
Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street from 2019. Hayes, which when Crossrail is built will be 27 minutes from the City, is expected to witness a significant rise in property values in particular, and Crossrail is also expected to accelerate home-building programmes across the
Above – Heathrow’s Terminal 5 opened in 2008 and saw 29.8 million passengers on 199,627 flights in 2012. Left – Hillingdon will be just 20 minutes from Bond Street when Crossrail arrives. Opposite page – While other local authorities have scaled back library services, Hillingdon’s have been improved.
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issue 1 summer 2014
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borough in the next few years. Dobie says: “Hillingdon is a vibrant area that benefits from excellent employment opportunities, education, green space and travel infrastructure, with the latter underlined by the mayor of London’s recent investment in Hillingdon’s public transport. “The development of Heathrow’s Terminal 2, the announcement of Crossrail and the regeneration of West Drayton are other projects that have made owner-occupiers, buyers nearer the beginning of the property ladder and investors look at this thriving part of west London with renewed enthusiasm.”
Ripe for development
Parts of Hillingdon offer prime development sites, with opportunities for employment, residential and mixeduse schemes. The local authority has set out an ambitious capital investment programme for the next five years, including a landmark 1,200-seat theatre and museum at the St Andrew’s hillingdon
issue 1 summer 2014
development in Uxbridge and three new youth centres across the borough. As cabinet member for community, commerce and regeneration, Councillor Douglas Mills explains, forming relationships with existing and wouldbe investors in Hillingdon is one of the council’s priorities. “We are fully committed to working with both new and existing businesses and will provide advice to support business growth.” The council’s business development team recently worked with Cathedral Group, supporting its successful bid for £7.7 million from the Greater London Authority to build the Central Research Laboratory at The Old Vinyl Factory in Hayes, kick-starting its reinvention as what is billed as “a hive of 21st century innovation, manufacturing and commerce”. The council is also working closely with the owners of St Andrew’s Park, Vinci St Modwen, to maximise the development’s potential for residents and business alike.
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Quality of Life Left and below – St George’s Parkwest scheme has encouraged other developers to come to Hillingdon. Right – The borough also boasts enviable natural assets.
‘hillingdon, made up of i several urban villages is i fantastic for people i looking to settle down’ i
People-focused
But Hillingdon Council’s approach is a holistic one, meeting residents’ needs by investing in key services: libraries, schools and the environment, as well as leisure. The authority has frozen council tax for a further two years and up to 2019 for older
residents, runs the popular Hillingdon in Bloom competition each year, and is one of the best-performing boroughs for refuse collection and recycling. Mills says: “We have increased the options for residents to recycle when others are cutting back, as well as maintaining our weekly doorstep recycling and waste collections because they matter to residents.” And there is no standing still. “We are implementing an ambitious £150 million school-building programme, the largest of its kind in London, to ensure every child has a quality place near their home. Extra facilities and new classes were added in quick time to 15 primary schools by September 2013 and a further 13 will get extra accommodation by September this year to meet the growing demand for places,” he says. “With three brand new primary schools set to open in the next 18 months, the council will have created the 6,500 additional places needed for the children
‘the Hillingdon area is i achieving high prices with, in i many circumstances, demand i outstripping the supply’ i of the borough to get the best possible start in life.” To support lifelong learning, the council has recently completed the only total library rebuild and refurbishment programme in the country, a unique project which has upgraded services and extended opening hours at all of the borough’s 17 libraries – at a time when many councils are shutting facilities or slashing opening hours. This investment is reflected in Hillingdon’s exam results, with most schools last year achieving 98 to 100% A-Level pass rates at A-E grade and many scoring coveted A* passes. Some 80% of Hillingdon primary and 78% of secondary school pupils attend a school which Ofsted judges to be good or outstanding. And results published this year either meet or surpass national results and have improved for the ninth consecutive year.
Bricks and mortar
Where there is developer interest, demand is there in turn. Lawrence
says: “As an agent, we are finding that in recent months the Hillingdon area is achieving high prices with, in many circumstances, demand outstripping the supply.” Demand for housing, particularly affordable homes, is certainly strong, with less than 1% of housing in Hillingdon across all sectors empty for more than six months. Average house prices in the borough have been rising since mid2009, according to Hillingdon Council’s Housing Strategy for 2012-15. Land Registry data reveals that in January 2013 the average price of a property in Hillingdon was £264,537, with wide differences in entry-level prices across the borough, from £169,000 in Yiewsley to £355,000 in Ickenham. Developers who are committed to working with local residents and communities find their attention to detail is well received in Hillingdon. St George West London’s Dobie says: “I am pleased that the vision and design of Parkwest have been wellreceived by the Hillingdon community, which is reflected in the development’s successful sales rates. Our reputation for building high quality apartments with superior specification complements Hillingdon’s attractiveness as a location, with Parkwest’s landscaped open spaces, formal squares and gardens adding to the borough’s charm.” And, once again, the council has played its part in boosting the borough’s housing market. Lawrence says: “There is no shortage of help for first-time buyers in the Hillingdon area, with the council really working hard to help people on to the property ladder. “We have worked closely over the past 18 months on two developments in the South Ruislip and Hayes areas in particular, which have helped more than 30 people secure their first homes. The Help to Buy scheme has had a real hand in the number of people being able to purchase property sooner.” So, as one of London’s largest boroughs, Hillingdon looks set to pack quite a punch in the months and years to come. From green space to top-notch leisure opportunities, a multitude of strong quality of life factors work handin-hand with the likes of Crossrail. It all serves to beg the question: why would you want to be anywhere else?
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FLUENT IN INDUSTRIAL, LOGISTICS AND DATA CENTRES ACROSS LONDON
450+ CUSTOMERS
14.7 MILLION SQ FT OF LETTABLE SPACE
ÂŁ1.6 BILLION
60+ ACRES
63
PORTFOLIO
OF DEVELOPMENT LAND
ESTATES
With an attractive portfolio of existing property and an extensive land bank on sites adjacent to major conurbations and transportation hubs, we are able to deliver exceptional product in key markets across London.
SEGRO.com/propertysearch Heathrow | Park Royal | Greater London Data as at December 31st 2013
Employment
Production sweet
While opportunities for investment still abound, so many national and multinational businesses have firm roots in Hillingdon that investors could get the impression this west London borough is full. Estates Gazette markets editor, Noella Pio Kivlehan, reports on who’s here and why the big names keep coming
Employment
Pushing ahead – Heathrow is one of the largest employment sites in London, directly sustaining about 76,000 jobs.
A
company retaining its best staff is a sign that it is a good organisation to work for. An entire area retaining and attracting some of the best national and international companies, is similarily indicative – this area offers everything that the shrewd investor wants. The west London borough of Hillingdon boasts great transport links – Heathrow is the local airport and one of the biggest employers. The borough is 13 miles from central London with a good supply of Grade A office space through top-end business parks such as Hyde Park Hayes, Uxbridge Business Park and Stockley Park, the fourth largest concentration of hotels in London, and above all, a council that is supportive of business and investment. As a result it has tempted in the likes of Robert Bosch, Hertz, Rackspace, Xerox, United Biscuits, Allied Irish Bank and Coca-Cola. The international drinks company chose Uxbridge as its headquarters and cemented this by relocating to new premises there in 2013. Another is Rackspace, the global internet hosting and cloud computing provider which took 160,000sq ft in Hyde Park Hayes last July. The site, the address and the transportation links were key, says Kate Freeman, Rackspace’s international properties manager. “You might think building cloud connections across the internet only happens from Silicon Valley or Tech City, but you would be surprised: we have settled on Hillingdon as our home in the UK. We have experienced fast growth since we were founded back in 1998. So, when we were looking for a new HQ
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in the UK, we needed a site that would help us create a winning workplace and that would also address our need to expand our office space as the company grows.” Attractively, the site was also a blank canvas. “At Rackspace, we are very much focused on employee culture so it was important that we could find a space with scope to build a custom-designed campus that suited our ethos.”
‘we have settled on hillingdon as i our home in the uk . . . We needed a i site that would help us create a i winning workplace and that i would address our need to expand’ i Transport links also made the site ideal, being just 15 miles from Charing Cross and 20 minutes to Paddington, making access to the West End and central London easy. Freeman says: “Transport links to Heathrow and the M4 corridor were also a major selling point for us, keeping our employees well-connected to the UK, as well as international transport links. The close proximity to the M25 also means areas north and south are an easy car drive away for members of the team.” Rackspace currently has more than 900 staff but its new building will enable greater capacity. Freeman adds: “Our plans for expansion will be well served in Hillingdon, spreading our ‘talent pool’ area from central London across commuter hubs in the south-west issue 1 summer 2014
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Top and above – Transport, location and the attitude of the local authority all drew Bosch to base itself in Hillingdon.
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Employment
Big players – Left, Apple is based in Stockley Park while BA, below right, has its headquarters in Waterside, Harmondsworth.
such as Oxfordshire or Reading.” Good transport links as well as location and a helpful council were among the factors drawing industrial firm Bosch to base its training facility in Uxbridge. The company’s training centre was originally in Denham, where the Bosch UK head office and warehouse are. But, says the company’s technical services manager Grant Taylor-Smith: “By 2011, due to growth, we found we were unable to cope with the increasing attendee levels and required a larger facility.” Taylor-Smith says: “The obvious choice was to seek another site positioned not too far from the head office, in order for us to control operations with the best retention of links with the main office. Hence we identified the present location in Riverside Way, and proceeded with the construction of the training centre, which opened in September 2012. “The proximity with the M25, M40 and A40 is ideal for the operation of our Denham site as a parts distribution hub, and its accessibility for our training attendees. The rail and underground links into London are also of direct benefit to us as a business.” Bosch has also tapped into the community in order to find workers, establishing great links with Brunel University, adds Taylor-Smith. “The local population does offer both sides of our business opportunities to secure suitable employees. An example is that students from Brunel University are made aware of the Bosch placement scheme and we regularly take on students for a 12-month placement from Brunel and other university establishments.” Hillingdon also has successful business parks. Rackspace is one firm now established in Hyde Park Hayes,
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while Stockley Park was one of the UK’s first business parks and remains a premier location for employers. Today the park hosts the likes of Apple and GlaxoSmithKline, where the latter is establishing a new support centre for its Indian and Brazilian operations. Outline permission is in place for a final phase of development on Stockley Park, including offices, a datacentre, hotel and amenity accommodation. “A good business park has been established here [at Riverside Business Park] and I am sure that the council has worked to achieve the best use of the area,” says Taylor-Smith. He adds: “Hillingdon Council seems to be quite forward-thinking and clearly sees the benefit in supporting local business development. The level of engagement with business and
‘The local population does offer both i sides of our business opportunities i to secure suitable employees’ i community is good, and we are also appreciative of the fact that at the planning stage, Hillingdon had the foresight and flexibility to allow a change of use in the industry classification of the site here which allowed a training centre to be established.” Working with all types of companies is a key priority for the council. “We are fully committed to working with both existing and potential new businesses. We pride ourselves on being ‘connected for business and made for living’, with attributes that appeal to businesses, such as outstanding transport links and a multi-skilled workforce, and the environment and facilities that employees
value,” says Fran Beasley, chief executive at Hillingdon Council. And even though the borough is already home to many well-known household names and thousands of SMEs, Beasley believes there is scope for further investment. To achieve this, all media and online channels are used. “We utilise Sitematch and Place West London events to attract new firms. Importantly, we work closely with partner issue 1 summer 2014
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Old Vinyl Fact ory: new groove Music giant EMI sited its vinyl factory – the company’s manufacturing HQ – in Hayes until it closed in the 1980s. At its height, the factory had employed 20,000 people, but the gradual decline was softened by the availability of airport jobs. That is now set to change. In a joint venture with Development Securities (DevSecs), the Cathedral Group is planning is to bring 4,000 jobs to the area through the regeneration of the site, known as The Old Vinyl Factory, which is almost seven hectares of industrial land, lying just 15 minutes away from London Paddington. Pivotal to the plans is the Central Research Laboratory (CRL, pictured below), which aims to deliver a new facility “that nurtures talent in hi-tech manufacturing, turning inventors into fully commercialised entrepreneurial companies,” says Martyn Evans, Cathedral Group’s creative director. Essentially, the CRL will provide a business support service and technical infrastructure to startups designing and making physical products in order to change the way inventors, entrepreneurs and investors in London interact with each other. Evans says: “It has been our clear
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intention since we took the site on in April 2011 to reverse that [blight and darkness on Hayes]. “We made a commitment to the London Borough of Hillingdon to put 4,000 new jobs back on the site within 10 years – the number we think worked on the portion of the EMI site we currently own when it was at the height of its success.” Among the plans put forward by Cathedral and DevSecs to achieve these goals is converting a building into a jobs factory, what Evans describes as “an incubator/ accelerator facility that offers inventors everything they need to develop their products into successful commercial enterprises, delivering companies that will grow and provide jobs for local people.” There will also be a fabrication laboratory, so inventors can refine their products. In October it was announced the facility won a £7.7 million loan from the London mayor’s Growing Places Fund. It was one of four new projects to receive a share of a £40 million fund for regeneration and business support schemes across the capital. The developers hope to be onsite this summer, and up and running by autumn next year.
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Employment organisations to attract investment. “The Cathedral Group’s bid to secure £7.7 million from the GLA Growth Fund with our support is a good example of our commitment to boost the local economy and increase employment opportunities.” (See panel, page 21). The council is also working closely with partners such as Jobcentre Plus, Uxbridge College and Hillingdon Adult Community Learning to address barriers to employment and to support residents’ access to training and job opportunities. In the last year alone the number of residents claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has dropped by 26%. Beasley adds: “We ensure the employment element is a key part of the
post-permission application process. For instance, we’ve recently maximised the employment and training opportunities
‘We utilise Sitematch and Place West i london events to attract new i firms. Importantly, we work closely i with partner organisations i to attract investment’ i from a proposed new town centre hotel by working closely with the developers.” With all this in place, the London Borough of Hillingdon continues to attract household names and multinational brands.
Thirsty for success – Coca-Cola confirmed its relationship with Hilllingdon by relocating to new premises in Uxbridge in 2013.
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THE CROSSRAIL EFFECT R K 0
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or why West is Best for Clearview Homes C
As one of West London’s most prolific and proactive house builders and developers, Clearview Homes are proud to be part of what we see as an on-going program of regeneration in the London Borough of Hillingdon. We have particularly focused on West Drayton and Yiewsley, locations already feeling the Crossrail effect. With Crossrail services to begin in 2019 from West Drayton station, and Paddington becoming just a 20 minute commute, the area is already feeling the “effect.” What better time could there be for us to take an old industrial site and regenerate it with a unique canal side development. This carefully planned regeneration scheme will bring a new dimension to Metro living with three blocks of bright dual aspect, balconied apartments separated by green amenity areas which capitalise on the adjacent Grand Union Canal. The 50, one and two bedroom apartments are already attracting the attention of the London-centric urbanites who can benefit from the speedy rail link to central London, whilst enjoying life in a unique and affordable suburban community. As one of the UK’s leading exponents of cellular block Thin Mortar Technology, we will be applying this cutting edge, highly “green” and sustainable method of construction to the creation of these temperate, tranquil and economically run homes. It is our aim that this will be the first of many landmark schemes for the London Borough of Hillingdon.
CLEARVIEW HOMES LIMITED CLEARVIEW HOUSE, 201 PINNER ROAD, NORTHWOOD HILLS, MIDDLESEX HA6 1BX T: 01923 840 048 F: 01923 834 266
www.clearviewhomes.co.uk
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M25 Northwood harefield Northwood Hills
Northwood Hills
A4180
Eastcote Eastcote
Ruislip Manor
Ruislip Manor
Ruislip
West Ruislip
South Ruislip M40
Ickenham
Uxbridge
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Hillingdon
South Ruislip
Ruislip Gardens
raf northolt
Uxbridge A40
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A408
A4020 M25 Stockley Park
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West Drayton
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Hayes & Harlington
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M4 M4
A4
Heathrow Terminal 5
Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3
Heathrow
Hatton Cross
Heathrow Terminal 4
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Projects
hillingdon on the map
projects under way across the London borough of hillingdon’s main regeneration sites, plus what is planned and what has been delivered
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riverside wayi 5
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st andrew’s parki 1
crossraili
The old vinyl factoryi
hillingdon central london
oTHER MAJOR SCHEMESi 2
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Town centre improvements Ruislip Manor Northwood Hills Uxbridge Eastcote Harefield
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High Point Village
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Projects
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The Old Vinyl Factory A prime piece of UK industrial history is being transformed into a new mixed-use community, complete with startup incubator workspace, in a complex £250 million redevelopment of the former EMI site. In its 1960s heyday, this centre of the world’s vinyl record production, pressing records for The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley, employed a reputed 22,000 people, and its regeneration will bring manufacturing and jobs back to the centre of Hayes. Many of the now empty and semi-derelict buildings were designed by Wallis, Gilbert & Partners, architect of the iconic Hoover Building in Perivale and the Firestone Factory in nearby Brentford. The scheme – for 17ha of the original 60-ha site – mixes the existing buildings with new build elements. The masterplan by Studio Egret West, Duggan Morris Associates and Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, comprises 58,500sq m of business space, up to 510 new homes, a nine-screen multiplex cinema, 2,700sq m of family restaurants, cafes and bars, a green-energy production centre, along with car parking and 16,200sq m of landscaped public space. Architect Paul Monaghan says: “We’re blessed with a lot of volume, big windows and atriums – spaces you’d be hard pressed to find in many of today’s newer office buildings. They have the kind of distinctive features you could never create now, and the most green use for any building is to reuse it.” Detailed planning consent was granted in April 2013, and in October 2013 the mayor of London announced Growing Places Fund investment of £7.7 million towards the Central Research Laboratory, the UK’s first full-service incubator for hi-tech manufacturing entrepreneurs, to be developed with Brunel University and other international organisations, with a further £3 million confirmed by Brunel, from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The first phase of the masterplan on-site is the Gatefold Building, at the east end of the site, offering 132 new homes, offices, workshop units for startup businesses, a new cafe and community space. Construction started in spring 2014 and will be completed in two years’ time. A further 510 residential units will be developed in phases. The first two are the Boiler House and the Material Store, which will include around 213 homes, along with commercial space.
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The homes – mainly one and two-bedroom, in a mix of tenures – will be constructed in parallel with a phased programme of public squares, streets and play spaces, as well as the new and restored commercial buildings. The Powerhouse, at the centre of the site, will become the home of the new combined heat and power scheme for the development, as well as a cafe/restaurant and live music venue. This new element of Hayes’ leisure economy – along with the restaurants, cinema, and museum in the refurbished Pressing Plant – will be linked to the town centre via a pedestrian route, fittingly named The Groove, cutting through the site via a range of public spaces. Cathedral Group creative director, Martyn Evans, says: “Stereo, vinyl records, airborne radar, television and the CAT scanner were all developed there as successful British products by scientists and inventors who were nurtured and supported by very forward-thinking management in a company that bestrode a wide range of industrial sectors as a result.” With past achievements in mind, Cathedral’s plan for this part of the old EMI site also includes employment for 4,000 people, mainly in small and medium-sized companies in affordable accommodation for startup and emerging local businesses. Larger, more established employers will occupy the refurbished heritage buildings and support, and be supported by, the range of smaller businesses on their doorstep.
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A new mixed-use quarter for Hayes – The Old Vinyl Factory scheme will transform old industrial buildings, create interesting new spaces, and bring additional homes and workspaces to the town.
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Projects 2
Town centre improvements To improve and promote the borough’s town centres, from Uxbridge to Eastcote, Hillingdon Council has undertaken physical improvements – such as parking, footpaths and roads, street signs, lighting and landscaping – and raised their public image, increasing spending, creating a more attractive environment and improving parking facilities. To boost retail, Hayes, Ruislip Manor and Northwood Hills shops benefited from a visual merchandising scheme, which offered free advice on refreshing window displays to entice shoppers, while a special grant scheme, as part of the mayor’s Outer London Fund, helped businesses to improve shop fronts. Last year, Hayes was awarded £4.5 million of Transport for London funding, which will help implement findings of the consultation undertaken in autumn 2013 on how to improve the town centre, making it a better place for people to live, work and visit. Of nearly 700 responses, more than two thirds were in favour of changing the existing layout, with people also being in favour of traffic and lighting improvements, and better access to parking. For more on Hillingdon’s town centres, see feature article on page 41.
Above – New lighting has transformed Ruislip Manor’s railway bridge into a better environment for pedestrians – and a local landmark.
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Below and left – High Point Village is beside Hayes & Harlington rail station, bringing new homes to the town centre, where investment in public realm is improving the environment.
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High Point Village High Point Village, next to Hayes & Harlington station, was completed in 2012 by Ballymore on a former brownfield site. Overlooking the Grand Union Canal, the scheme of eight buildings includes 525 apartments (two of the five blocks are affordable housing), 199 hotel rooms and 127 aparthotel rooms, 1,500sq m of retail space and a health and fitness complex with an 18-metre swimming pool. It has also won two awards: an Evening Standard New Homes Award, in May 2010, winning the ‘Best New Apartment’ category in the Affordable Homes Sector, and an NHBC Pride in the Job award in 2012.
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Projects 4
Riverside Way Segro, Europe’s leading owner-manager and developer of industrial property, has secured detailed planning consent from the London Borough of Hillingdon to construct 501 Riverside Way, a 3,460sq m, 80-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and Beefeater Grill restaurant, together with a speculative 2,455sq m industrial unit, at Riverside Way, Riverside Estate, Uxbridge. The scheme is the final phase of development at Riverside Way, which extends to 15,979sq m and is home to companies such as Bosch, Manpower, Monster Energy, Kommerling UK and Aristocrat Technologies. The speculative industrial development forms part of Segro’s strategy to utilise its well-located land bank to deliver high quality industrial accommodation, suitable for companies involved with urban distribution, trade counters, light industrial and warehouse facilities. The provision of new amenities at Riverside Way delivers an attractive business park environment for current and prospective customers. Once completed, the hotel and restaurant will seek to create 60 jobs, with Segro and Whitbread committing to target around half towards long-term unemployed people in the borough. Further employment opportunities will be created once the speculative industrial unit is let. Alan Holland, Segro’s business unit director for Greater London, said: “We are very pleased to be undertaking our second pre-let development with Whitbread. Together with our new industrial unit, the development will revitalise the high quality environment of Riverside Way, and boost the availability of business amenity space, enhancing its attractiveness to local businesses and prospective customers.” “Riverside Way illustrates our ongoing commitment to creating modern, new business accommodation in major conurbations in order to meet anticipated market demand, while also improving the public realm and amenities, and providing local employment opportunities.”
Above and below – Elements of Segro’s Riverside Way development.
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Hayes & Harlington Crossrail station
The western section of the Crossrail route runs from Paddington in west London to Heathrow Airport and Maidenhead. The 13 stations on the route will undergo a number of enhancements to facilitate the new Crossrail services due to begin in 2019. This includes new station buildings at Acton Main Line, Southall, West Ealing and Hayes & Harlington and a major renovation at Ealing Broadway. The Hayes & Harlington station rebuild is estimated to cost £4 million and is due to start on-site in 2015 with completion in early summer 2016. Crossrail will improve the Great Western route suburban services by offering new and longer electric trains, providing a quicker, cleaner, quieter and smoother journey than the current stopping diesel trains used west of Paddington. When full service commences in 2019, Crossrail will provide 10 trains per hour on the Great Western Main Line at peak times. This will include four trains per hour to Maidenhead, four trains per hour to Heathrow and two trains per hour to West Drayton. Hayes & Harlington will have 10 Crossrail trains an hour, plus two others.
Above – Potential design for the new Crossrail station at Hayes & Harlington.
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Projects
Top – Grade ll-listed Hillingdon House was built in 1844. Right – Charles Church is building high quality homes at St Andrew’s Park. Main photo – The former RAF Uxbridge base, now the St Andrew’s Park development, which will extend out from Uxbridge town centre.
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St Andrew’s Park The historic site of RAF Uxbridge is being transformed into St Andrew’s Park, a residential community which will comprise up to 1,340 new homes, complete with a school, theatre, park and commercial space, focused around Hillingdon House, a Grade II-listed mansion. The development presents a unique opportunity to effectively extend Uxbridge town centre. Residents of the houses and apartments at St Andrew’s Park will enjoy a tranquil location with connections into central London in less than 50 minutes from nearby Uxbridge tube station. As well as the housing, 15% of which will be affordable, the development – which reflects the heritage and ecology of the site – will provide 18ha of public space, a 1,200-seat theatre, a museum, doctor’s surgery, 90-bed hotel, primary school, care home, and 20,000sq m of commercial space. The RAF station was a vital base in both world wars, but is most recognised for its role in the Battle of Britain, when it was home to No 11 Group RAF, responsible for the aerial defence of London and the south-east of England. The whole development – by VSM, a joint venture between Vinci and St Modwen – will be delivered over seven phases. The first phase is on-site, with Persimmon having begun the construction of 451 homes in December 2012; the first of these is due to be completed in April this year. Charles Church, part of Persimmon, is also developing 56 homes to the north-east of the site, which will be completed by the end of 2014, with many already sold.
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C nnected
4 Business
Made 4 Living Connecting the best of London with the rest of the world
www.hillingdon.gov.uk/business
Education
Riding high From the borough’s schools delivering high levels of educational attainment, to colleges and universities providing a strong skills base, investors in Hillingdon find the workforce they need, as James Wood reports
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place’s prosperity can be judged by a number of factors: from the businesses choosing to relocate there, to the families wanting to settle and the investors bringing in wealth and business opportunities. For each scenario, a strong education sector is crucial. For businesses, having a pool of skilled workers from which to select is a huge incentive and parents with young children will often first ask: “What are the schools like?” when deciding where to move. As a result, London boroughs compete to create vibrant, economically prosperous environments that are attractive to potential residents, will draw in skilled workers and retain the talents developed in their schools, colleges and their universities. The advantages to studying in London are numerous: from high teaching standards to the learning benefits of the country’s best museums on the doorstep; from the cultural buzz to improved prospects of finding postuniversity employment. For generations, students have moved to the big city to
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make use of all it has to offer. But when ranked by student experience, an annual survey by Times Higher Education suggests that the city has its drawbacks too. London’s huge size and its high living costs can be isolating. They also show that one institution bucks the trend. Brunel University, ranked 29 in the 2014 poll, came in at 15 places higher than any other university in the capital. The university has also been ranked first in London, fourth in the UK and 29th in the 2014 world ranking of the top 100 universities founded in the last 50 years by Times Higher Education. Students rated Brunel highly for its atmosphere, helped by its status as one of the few campus-based universities in the capital, its 24-hour library service, convenient location and sports facilities which include an indoor climbing wall, indoor bouldering room, indoor cricket and archery and four squash courts. It was also used as a base by several Olympic and Paralympic teams in advance of, and during, the London 2012 Games.
The place to be – Brunel University ranked 29th in the 2014 Times Higher Education world ranking of universities founded in the last 50 years. Facillities include a 24-hour library service and a varied sports offer.
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Beacon – Brunel University is one of the capital’s few campusbased establishments, offering students university life in London.
Brunel’s success is having a positive impact on the borough of Hillingdon, helping to retain the skills which employers need to create sustainable and workable businesses. Elizabeth Pears, news editor of The Voice and a Brunel graduate, says: “When I was choosing which university to go to, I wasn’t ready to leave London. I wanted to stay to make use of all the amazing things the city has to offer, but I also wanted to have the normal experience of student life. “The longer I have worked and the further I have advanced in my career, the more I have come to appreciate my time at the university. The networks I developed during that period of time were nothing short of phenomenal. In short, all roads on my career path have led from Brunel. “I now have the tightest circle of people, both professionally and socially, all of which I met when I was at the university. There simply is not a tangible, physical campus atmosphere like there is at Brunel anywhere else in London and it has proved to be so useful to me that I was a part of that.” The university is a also a partner for hillingdon
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Education the project to set up a Central Research Laboratory at The Old Vinyl Factory redevelopment in Hayes, currently being carried out by Cathedral Group and Development Securities, which was granted planning approval in April 2013. Once used as an HMV production centre for manufacturing radios and television sets and as the headquarters of record label EMI, the plant was the hub in world vinyl record production, pressing records from some of the most successful
‘in short, all roads on my career path have led from brunel. it has proved so useful to me’ recording artists of the 20th century including The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Beach Boys and Elvis Presley. Now it is to become a ‘jobs factory’ – the UK’s first full-service incubator for hi-tech manufacturing entrepreneurs. The Greater London Authority,
Above and left – Uxbridge College nurtures its strong links with local businesses. Below left – The Old Vinyl Factory in Hayes will become the Central Research Lab.
through its Growing Places Fund, is providing funding of £7.7 million to transform The Old Vinyl Factory, providing a facility for entrepreneurs by delivering technical infrastructure and business support under one roof. The university will provide business mentoring, commercial training, and offer research and development space and a small-batch production facility. Work experience is central to the Brunel ethos with around 50% of students participating in schemes. The Placement and Careers Centre has also provided information about employment opportunities for students. Undergraduates have been placed on year-long work placements at companies such as Adidas, Microsoft, Walt Disney and Nissan. It is this abundance of rare and valuable opportunities that makes the experience of studying at Brunel so worthwhile. Andrew Ward, director of corporate relations at Brunel, says: “We are keen that people stay in the borough after they finish their studies, and relationships and experience they build during their time at Brunel can facilitate this.” The university also manages a research facility developing new metal techniques, where many engineering students have placements, helping create new alloys and metal casting methods. The project is being funded by luxury car hillingdon
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manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover. With university centres catering for students studying such diverse topics as sustainable food chains, advanced solidification technology and comedy studies, it is easy to see why demand for places at Brunel is on the rise. The town of Uxbridge is central to Hillingdon’s blooming education sector, with nursing students at the Buckinghamshire New University having been based at its Uxbridge site since 2009, and the highly respected Uxbridge College achieving acclaim. The college offers vocational training to students and has strong business links, working with cloud hosting solutions company Rackspace to meet IT training requirements for new recruits. More than £50 million has been invested to ensure the college’s campuses at Hayes and Uxbridge have top-of-therange facilities. A £5 million IT and media block at the Hayes campus and a £6 million sports hall and fitness college at the Uxbridge campus are now in place. Rated by Ofsted as outstanding, Uxbridge College has gained soughtafter ‘beacon’ status, awarded to colleges that deliver outstanding teaching and learning, reserved for providers funded by the Learning and Skills Council. The college directly benefits local businesses. Executive director for enterprise and development, Lorraine
Collins, says: “Uxbridge College is the top further education college in west London and has a long and successful history of working with local employers to support their recruitment and skills needs. “Our strength lies in our expertise, local knowledge, links with industry and in our reputation as an outstanding college. As well as specialist vocational qualifications taught by industry experts and providing a pipeline of future talent, we offer customised industry training to increase the skills of the current workforce. We are also the largest provider of apprenticeships in the area and advise employers how to maximise the benefits of employing an apprentice for their future growth.” And the council mirrors in turn this culture of support and dedication to skills and education. Around 6,500 new school places are being created to meet rising demand, as part of the largest school building project in London. Councillor David Simmonds, deputy leader and cabinet member for education and children’s services, says: “This is an exciting time for Hillingdon as we invest £150 million into our ambitious school building programme – the largest of its kind in London. In doing so, we are effectively planning and commissioning our education services by working in partnership with schools and other partners to develop joined up solutions, which make best use of the resources and assets available for Hillingdon’s children and their families.” Boosting employment is a top economic development priority for the council. Despite low unemployment rates, the local authority is keen to create as many job opportunities as possible. Using the planning process, the council works with developers and businesses to maximise employment and training opportunities for local residents. Hillingdon has become known for using skill-based learning to create a vibrant and prosperous knowledge economy. With support from all sides and a strong student community making its positive presence felt in the borough, swathes of skilled youngsters are thriving in this culture of support. Hillingdon is an attractive option for students who want the employment opportunities and buzz of London, without the frenzy of inner city life.
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速
For details about the next Sitematch London viSit SitematchLondon.com or caLL the Sitematch team on 0207 978 6840 Advisers
Partner
Organiser
Town Centres
Centre forward
Hillingdon’s 16 town centres offer a mix of different retail offers and employment; Uxbridge is the main metropolitan centre at the heart of the borough, with its abundant mix of high street names and independent traders – but it’s not the only story, as Sarah Herbert discovers
Town Centres
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hat are now Hillingdon’s town centres, were for many centuries self-sufficient, thriving villages, only absorbed into the capital via the 19th century railway boom. All have retained their character and are still just as vital in providing goods and services for local people and contributing to the economic life of the borough. As Peter Lawrence of estate agent Lawrence Rand puts it: “The Hillingdon area is made up of several ‘urban villages’, each with its own individual community feel, which really attracts people to the area.” Two of the town centres – Hayes and West Drayton – are undergoing another rail-led renaissance, thanks to Crossrail, which will help bring in investment in public transport, boost property investment and bolster infrastructure with fast connections to central London, attracting businesses and new residents. But to ensure that all of Hillingdon’s town centres are able to thrive, the council has undertaken a number of projects to improve both the
physical environment – with free or low cost parking, pavements, lighting and landscaping – and their profile and public image, increasing footfall and spending. Hayes, Northwood Hills and Ruislip Manor have received funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) – see town centre profiles – to carry out the results of public consultation undertaken last year, concentrating on new layouts, traffic calming, and improving shopping. To further enhance transport and accessibility, Hillingdon will continue to utilise Transport for London (TfL) Local Implementation Plan funding (LIP – for projects which support the London mayor’s transport strategy) on bus stop accessibility, safer traffic around schools, pedestrian wayfinding, and improving the Grand Union Canal towpath to encourage more cycling and walking. Last year Hillingdon spent key elements of LIP funding on cycle training for children and adults, new trees on streets, cycle parking spaces, road safety education and school-based walking promotions.
In a boost to local retail economies, Hayes, Ruislip Manor and Northwood Hills shopkeepers took advantage of a visual merchandising scheme offering free advice and help on refreshing window displays, while a special grant scheme, as part of the Outer London Fund, helped businesses to improve their shopfronts. Many of the centres also took part in last year’s Independents Day, boosting local and independent shops. (See town centre profiles opposite). As Councillor Douglas Mills, Hillingdon Council’s cabinet member for community, commerce and regeneration, says: “Town centres are the important hubs that hold the spokes of a community together. For that reason alone we will continue to invest in them, making the area feel better, which in turn, will assist independent shops to offer the variety that a good town centre can provide.”
Above – Bringing big changes to Hayes, Cathedral Group’s transformation of EMI’s former premises, The Old Vinyl Factory.
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Above – Uxbridge’s thriving town centre and top 10 shopping centre in the region. Right – A taste of Argentina at family-run restaurant Lomito, in Northwood Hills.
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is Hillingdon’s leading town centre and also one of the region’s top 10 shopping destinations. It has two shopping centres – the Pavilions and intu, with a nine-screen IMAX cinema. Both malls are packed with high street names, while historic Windsor Street and the Market House are home to more independent stores, and a craft market is held every Wednesday in the Pavilions. Many of the town centre streets are pedestrianised. Uxbridge also has plenty of restaurants to choose from, at lunchtime or during the evening, from high street favourites such as Prezzo, Ask, Nandos or Bella Italia, Pizza Express, Slug and Lettuce, and chain coffee shops. The pedestrianised area has a continental feel and plenty of outdoor eating options along the high street. Local workers could try the top TripAdvisor haunt, Martin’s Place, an old-school steak restaurant, Lumbini Nepalese eaterie or Nonna Rosa Italian. To work-off those excess calories, there’s the Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex, with its restored Grade II-listed art deco outdoor pool – the old Uxbridge Lido – 400-metre running track, badminton courts and pétanque terrain. Anyone in Uxbridge can also take advantage of Brunel University, where many parts of its £350 million campus redevelopment are open to the community, including the library and sports centre. Near the town centre is the 1.6-ha Fassnidge Park, a traditional, formal Edwardian park, or for a culture fix hillingdon
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nearby Ickenham has the Compass Theatre with its rolling programme of exhibitions, plays and film. Uxbridge library has been extensively refurbished and now offers six floors of new books, PCs and Apple iMacs with free internet for residents, and a new learning resource centre.
Hayes
The traditional town centre is due to receive £4.5 million of funding from TfL and the London Borough of Hillingdon to implement findings from last autumn’s consultation on how local people want to see the town centre improve. Of nearly 700 responses, more than two-thirds were in favour of changing the existing layout, with people also mentioning traffic and lighting improvements, and better access to parking. Such improvements will build on boosts to local shops already undertaken, such as forecourt resurfacing, iconic numbering, a campaign to improve visual merchandising and shop windows, and free advice on creative skills, promotions to residents and customer service. Big changes are afoot in Hayes, which will have a Crossrail station. EMI’s former premises is being developed in a mixeduse scheme, The Old Vinyl Factory, by Cathedral Group. Away from the shopping streets, Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre offers both sporting facilities and a library. Alternatively, there’s the Hayes International Motor Museum with over 400 of the world’s greatest cars and bikes, or the Beck Theatre.
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Town Centres Northwood Hills
Another successful applicant for funding from the London mayor’s office, consultation-driven improvements will concentrate on creating a more vibrant and attractive town centre with a wider range of shops and services. Improvements include new pavements and lighting, an elegant, tree-lined central reservation, replacing old street furniture, and creating better parking. To increase the range of shops, the council has offered shop front grants of up to £4,800, plus specialist design advice, low-cost, pop-up space and free or cheap parking for residents. Initial work to shop fronts is under way, with major works following during the summer. Working closely with TfL, the council is also implementing major enhancements to the area immediately around the centre’s Metropolitan line station, including bespoke murals with echoes of the town’s ‘Metroland’ heritage.
Hillingdon Council also supports events to promote the town centre and its businesses, with a very successful Independents Day Event in June 2013, winning a ‘small business-friendly’ award for the council. Northwood Hills has a thriving restaurant scene, with some unusual fusions – the Namaste Lounge blends a traditional English Pub with a modern Indian club – along with Lomito Argentinian, independent pizza, Chinese and Thai restaurants all at the top of TripAdvisor’s rankings.
Ruislip Manor
Ruislip Manor has also benefited from investment of £2 million funding from the London mayor, which has delivered better pavements and street lighting, additional and safer crossings, semimature trees, easier access to off-street car parks, and improvements to the area around the rail station. Steer Davies Gleave has redesigned the public
space in and around the high street. One of the highlights of the street scene in Ruislip Manor, following its facelift, is the refurbished bridge, carrying the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines over Victoria Road, with distinctive lighting on the facades and underside of the bridge – see photo below and night-time shot on page 28. To reduce the number of vacant premises and encourage a better range of shops, Hillingdon Council is providing grants to improve shopfronts and bring empty retail units back into use. Helping to increase footfall, Ruislip Manor Post Office is now centrally located in Victoria Road, transforming a previously empty shop. Ruislip Manor also benefits from a Chamber of Commerce-led annual street festival, and a previous award-winner – with town centre events and special promotions organised in partnership with shop owners, such as the Ruislip Manor Fun Day, which took place in July 2013, or the successful Festive Lights Switch On in November.
Above – Nightlife in Northwood Hills, at the Namaste Lounge. Right – Ruislip Manor sees a series of town centre events.
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Thinking space: investment in learning environments
At Renzo Piano’s The Place,on@longharbour.co.uk the entire News Corp operation relocates to www.longharbour.co.uk Sellar’s dynamic business hub of global brands with a strong media flavour
LONDON’S HOTSPOT: EAST LONDON ISSUE FOUR_2014
P
Winning ways: gongs still sounding for Barking town centre
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DESTINATION EALING
The regeneration magazine of the London Borough of Ealing/issue 05/spring ‘14
Derby’s regeneration magazine /issue number seven
capital of
innovation CAPITAL OF WEST LONDON hi-tech city ◆ rail industry’s 175 years ◆ supply chain skills
- 5 new Crossrail stations
stainable
- Growing investor confidence
derbyperspective.com
- 18 minutes to the City
- Ripe with potential
- 15 minutes to Heathrow
- Make sure you take the tour…
SMART COOKIES: INVEST IN EALING
perspective
ents venue
CREATIVE TALENT: BRIGHT BUSINESS
★
Derby’s regeneration magazine
Fully integrated state-of-the-art technology 270 seat auditorium Award winning catering
EAST ON FILM HACKNEY’S ELBA: LUTHER TO MANDELA
issue 5 2014
4
7
PLUS
Street wise – urban art Wish you’d built here? Round table – clear thinking at the Crystal
eastmagazine.net
Launching SOOn!
LONDON
FanTaSTic
ISSUE 6 2014 medway making history
INVEST BROMLEY
Investment destination: Hounslow
medway making history
Great West
www.ealinginlondon.com
★
MEDWAY 1
Great West Investment destination: Hounslow
Investment opportunities in the London Borough of Bromley
Developing a new concept in rented accommodation
3 & 4 BEDROOM HOMES AT ST. MARY’S ISLAND FROM £250,000
Chiswick Park, Chiswick
Investment opportunities in the London Borough of Bromley
Gillette Corner, Brentford
Creating places: Roding Riverside takes shape
Issue 3 2014 boldmagazine.co.uk
EALING IN LONDON
LONDON’S HOTSPOT: EAST LONDON ISSUE FOUR_2014
d’s most
For more information, please contact Oliver Nicoll on: +44 (0)207 723 8881
ISSUE 3 2014
Issue 11 Spring 2014
thecrystal.org
Towers, sky & ambiTion
The Fishing Village at St. Mary’s Island brings together the best of Medway’s excellent road, rail and bus connections to Kent and beyond with new high specification fisherman-style cottages, to create a superb new way of contemporary living.
gateway from Heathrow ten locations for growth potential
elopment site opportunities from est
Call 01634 891200 or visit www.thefishingvillage.co.uk
ntrepreneurial, diverse
Flying higher
London Biggin Hill Airport, quick and slick alternative
the most of Hounslow? about relocating to the borough, contact:
ROAD LESS TRAVELLED: COOL GLOBAL BRAND
MILE HIGH GRUB: HEATHROW ECONOMY
* Computer generated image is indicative only. Prices correct at time of going to print. February 2014.
2014
www.placespeoplelove.co.uk
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Designer living The housing schemes winning plaudits Skilling up Medway’s bold plan to meet employers’ needs Essential Living Made in Medway TIGER fierce Proudfunding to befuelling working in growth association with Bromley Council Heavy hitters Medway’s big guns gather to map its future
Essentialliving.uk.com
Bromley de luxe – good business for top brands
ISSUE 2 SUMMER 2013
Issue 2 2014
www.investhounslow.com
Issue 2 Summer 2013
Investment flows into Bromley town centre
e homes, great schools and more ce than almost any other borough
nslow.com
Invest Bromley
375 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QY +44 (0)20 7978 6840 3foxinternational.com
*93.3% of respondents to an independent survey of magazine readers in 2009
Markets
Hillingdon facts‌ London Paddington is only
Crossrail arrives in 2019 with fast, efficient trains to central London
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state-ofthe-art libraries
17 mins from Hayes & Harlington
2,000
24
Green Flags
the most in the country
hectares of countryside
200
parks and open spaces
Well connected to major UK motorways: M25, M40 and M4
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issue 1 summer 2014
hillingdon
2
nd
largest borough in London
Heathrow Airport connects the borough to 180 destinations in 85 countries
Worldclass leisure facilities
12 More than 20,000
businesses and public sector employers are located in the borough
(Office for National Statistics 2013)
London Underground stations are served by either the Metropolitan, Piccadilly or Central lines
Excellent educational facilities at Brunel University, Bucks New University and Uxbridge College
186,000 people at working age (Office for National Statistics 2013)
Miles of waterways and rivers
hillingdon
issue 1 summer 2014
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p u o r g s r e Partn Joining together to support Hillingdon
A2Dominion Caroline Abomeli caroline.abomeli@a2dominion.co.uk Macmillan macmillan.org.uk The National Autistic Society autism.org.uk 3Fox International Paul Gussar paul@3foxinternational.com
Connectivity
motion picture
Hillingdon’s connections – to central London, the south-east and west of the country – are excellent – and then there’s Heathrow, to tick the international travel boxes. If that wasn’t enough, Crossrail is coming to two of the borough’s stations. Kirsty MacAulay reports
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Connectivity
S
hort only of a port, the London borough of Hillingdon covers all transport modes, with superb road, rail, underground and air links. Travellers to meetings in Mayfair (28 minutes to Bond Street from Northolt) or Madrid (two hours and 15 minutes from Heathrow), can get there with ease. London’s new east-west rail route, Crossrail, will run from late 2019, adding 10% to the capital’s public transport capacity. To Hillingdon, Crossrail will bring the benefit of even better connections, slashing journey times to central London – Heathrow to Liverpool Street will take just 35 minutes, compared to 55 minutes currently. An estimated 200 million people
hillingdon has one of the highest i concentrations of international i and European headquarters i outside the city of london, i canary wharf and the west end i are expected to use the service each year when it is fully operational. West Drayton and Hayes & Harlington stations will be stopping points for the new service, which will have capacity for 1,500 passengers per train. Hillingdon’s advantages are recognised by large firms as good value in a prime London location. No sky-high rents, excellent transport links to central London, and with Apple and Xerox as neighbours, relocating businesses are in good company. Three underground lines run through the borough – Central, Piccadilly and Metropolitan – which is approximately 30 minutes from central London,
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Slipstream – The sculpture is the centrepiece of Heathrow’s new Terminal 2, named The Queen’s Terminal.
convenient for meetings in the City or West End. For appointments elsewhere, First Great Western runs trains direct to Reading and Oxford and onwards to Cardiff, Bristol and Plymouth. Heathrow provides access to international markets. Terminal 2 (T2), the £2.5 billion development named The Queen’s Terminal, was opened in June by the Queen herself. Designed by luis vidal + architects, internationally
renowned for ambitious work on airports and commitment to economic, social and environmental responsibility, T2 has taken five years to complete. The 23 Star Alliance carriers will operate from the new terminal, along with Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic, Little Red, and Germanwings. Mark Schwab, CEO of Star Alliance says: “The Queen’s Terminal will offer a superior travel experience to customers, issue 1 summer 2014
hillingdon
Underground trains to Central London Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 minutes to Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly line)
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Uxbridge minutes to Liverpool Street (Metropolitan line)
55
Northolt minutes to Tottenham Court Road (Central line)
31
Hounslow West minutes to Victoria (Piccadilly line)
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Flights from Heathrow airport Paris
1hr10
Madrid
2hrs15
Dubai
6hrs45
New York
7hrs10
Tokyo
12hrs26
Sydney
21hrs39
Crossrail from Hayes & Harlington, 2019 Minutes Southall 3 Heathrow Central
create new business opportunities for member carriers and provide an improved working environment for employees.” The centrepiece of the hi-tech terminal is the 78-metre, 77-tonne sculpture, Slipstream, created by Richard Wilson RA. The twisting aluminium form, evoking the flight path of a small stunt plane, is likely to be viewed by 20 million passengers a year. Heathrow draws investors to hillingdon
issue 1 summer 2014
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Ealing Broadway
8
Slough
11
Heathrow Terminal 4
12
Paddington
18
Bond Street
20
Maidenhead
23
Tottenham Court Road
23
Farringdon
25
Liverpool Street
27
Whitechapel
31
Canary Wharf
35
Stratford
36
Woolwich
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Hillingdon, which has one of the capital’s highest concentrations of international and European headquarters outside the City of London, Canary Wharf and the West End – quite an achievement for a borough many overseas companies may not yet have heard of. Companies include Cadbury, which moved in 2007 from Mayfair to cut costs, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, based in Hillingdon for 25 years. British Airways, BMI and China Airlines have bases around Heathrow. Companies located in Uxbridge include Xerox, Coca-Cola, Raytheon and Guoman Hotel Management. Hayes is home to Heinz, Rackspace and United Biscuits, while Apple, Hasbro, Canon, BP, Marks and Spencer, Toshiba and GlaxoSmithKline are all at Stockley Park. Only 15 minutes from Heathrow by bus, Stockley Park is served by West Drayton and Hayes & Harlington rail stations with quick access to Paddington – and it’s on the Crossrail route. It is close to the M4 and M25 for easy access to markets in Wales, Bristol and the West Country. Stockley Park was established during the 1980s; it specialises in ICT and has 61 hectares of beautifully landscaped and maintained grounds, including a golf course and lake. The appeal for firms wanting to locate near Heathrow, the UK’s largest single employment site, is obvious, for international companies and import/ export businesses. Relocating employers will find a skilled workforce as Hillingdon is home to a strong Further Educational provider – Uxbridge College – and to Brunel University, excellent for its technical and engineering connections, and ranked 15th most international university in the world by the Times Higher Education. Even before the arrival of gamechanging Crossrail, Hillingdon has excellent transport connections, making it a prime business location. For companies considering relocation, staff will benefit from moving to a borough of open spaces, with 24 Green Flag parks – the most in the UK – and a range of residential property at competitive prices. Central London is a tube ride away and Hillingdon is a short hop from spectacular countryside – and for businesses, access to markets further afield via the M4 or M40 – truly the best of both worlds.
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Sitematch Opportunity
Stockley Close Units will be suitable for a wide range of occupiers – from logistics to light industrial to advanced engineering.
Hillingdon Council and Segro are looking for potential occupiers for new industrial units that are being built at Stockley Close estate in West Drayton. Segro is speculatively developing three new units, which are sized 2,455sq m, 2,775sq m and 3,390sq m respectively and are being built to achieve an “excellent” BREEAM rating. The units will be suitable for a wide range of occupiers, including logistics, light industrial, advanced engineering and urban distribution. The site is located on the A408 and benefits from close proximity to the M4 and M25, as well as Heathrow Airport, which is only two miles from the development. Stockley Close is already home to Rymans, UTi Worldwide (UK), Transport for London and MNX Global Logistics. Alan Holland, Segro’s business unit director for Greater London, said of the opportunity: “The shortage of suitable,
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well-located, modern warehouses in our core markets, combined with the increased demand we are seeing for urban, regional and national distribution space, is driving requirements for newlydeveloped space. Stockley Close is ideally located to meet this demand, delivering the right space in the right location. Situated just two miles to the north of Heathrow Airport, it is a highly attractive location both for businesses which service contracts at Heathrow, as well as those which seek easy access to the surrounding motorway network.” The new units will be completed and ready for occupation by November 2014. For more information about this opportunity, contact John O’Brien, leasing manager in Segro’s Greater London team, on 01753 218157 or john.o’brien@segro.com issue 1 summer 2014
hillingdon
Education Extra
ABCD EDUCATION EXTRA THIS SECTION showcases hillingdon’s educational establishments, what they offer students, businesses, the regional economy and what they offer hillingdon. they make an essential contribution to the borough’s skills base.
FGHIJKL MNOPQRS g n i n r a e L TUVWXYZ s r e t t a m
There is a discernable buzz around eduation in Hillingdon. From the diverse range of courses on offer to the enviable student experience possible here, young people are finding no end of reasons to study in this corner of the country. Educational establishments are partnering in prominent local development projects and teaming up with local businesses on covetable work experience schemes. Research facilities abound too, and investment aplenty has gone into keeping ahead of the learning curve.
BRUNEL TALENT RESEARCH INNOVATION ENGAGEMENT If you are a business and not quite sure how you would like to work with Brunel, please contact Andrew Ward, Director of Corporate Relations, Brunel University.
Email: andrew.ward@brunel.ac.uk Tel: 01895 267698
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issue 1 summer 2014
hillingdon
Education Extra
Brunel university london Brunel University, London is a campus based university founded in 1966. Brunel offers a multitude of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as research opportunities. Brunel’s mission is to combine academic rigour with the practical, entrepreneurial and imaginative approach pioneered by its namesake, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brunel boasts over 4,500 rooms on campus, and has a thriving conference scene outside of term time. Brunel was one of the first universities to offer sandwich courses, and many of its undergraduate courses offer a year in industry as part of the course, taken in either a one year or two six month blocks. Brunel is also pioneering work placements for postgraduate students for many of its courses. Brunel’s award winning placement and careers centre in one of the largest in the UK and works with businesses in all areas, whether they are looking to recruit students for casual part-time work, or a highly skilled postgraduate for a specialist role.
hillingdon
issue 1 summer 2014
Brunel’s research income increases year on year, and it has established key partnerships in relevant sectors with companies like TWI. Following a redeployment in 2014, major research will be focused around three new specialist research institutes: Energy Futures, Environment Health and Societies, and Materials and Manufacturing.
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Driving professional and creative excellence since 1893 Bucks is a new generation university that provides employer-led higher education that is professional, practice-based and industry related. The world of work is fast-evolving. That’s why all of our courses are designed with industry in mind. Our impressive academic record, career-focused courses and industry links help students develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to hit the ground running when they come to look for employment. We are one of the top creative universities in the UK* with first-class facilities, a 120-year history, and campuses in High Wycombe and Uxbridge. With a wide range of courses on offer, from undergraduate degrees through to postgraduate and research programmes, as well as offering bespoke services to businesses, we ensure that students are well-prepared for whatever they choose to do when they leave us.
* Which? University, voted by students (2013-14).
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issue 1 summer 2014
hillingdon
Education Extra
bucks new university Bucks New University is a new generation university. We provide employer-led higher education, which is professional, practice-based and industry-related. We’re continually investing in our facilities, so that our students can benefit from a first-class learning environment and industry-standard technology. Our degrees are amongst the most employer focused and innovative in the country. We have over 9,000 students at our two campuses in High Wycombe and Uxbridge. This includes full-time and part-time students and those in employment who are looking to enhance their skills by taking additional short courses offered to further their careers.
Many of our courses have been developed alongside leading industry professionals. Our extensive connections with professionals, practitioners and employers ensure that we are upto-date, and offer opportunities to our students to build a network of contacts that will give them an essential edge when entering the jobs market.
To find out more, call us on 0800 0565 660, email us at advice@bucks.ac.uk or visit our website at bucks.ac.uk.
• Our Uxbridge Campus is home to all our nursing, operating department practitioner and healthrelated courses with convenient road and rail links and easy access to our partner NHS trusts and the rest of London. • Our High Wycombe Campus offers a range of courses focused on the management, public and creative sectors.
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Recruitment & training services for business_2014.indd 1
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issue 1 summer 2014
hillingdon
Education Extra
Uxbridge college At Uxbridge College we strive for excellence. We are the number 1 college in west London with the highest overall success rates. We have been awarded Beacon status by the government’s Quality Improvement Agency and our last OFSTED/ALI report deemed Uxbridge College to be ‘outstanding’ – the highest grade they can give. Over the last few years we have invested £60 million in specialist facilities and technology and continue to develop our campuses to offer high quality teaching and learning spaces. Learners are at the heart of the work we do at Uxbridge College. We create opportunities, we create success and we create futures. Our outstanding teaching, learning and assessment and strong engagement with economic partners ensure we continue to meet local and regional skills needs, to shape and support the current and future workforce. As the only further education college in the London Borough of Hillingdon, we understand the local skills requirements and align our offer with those needs. We support small and medium enterprises in identifying and addressing their skills needs and work with large companies to help them recruit local talent.
hillingdon
issue 1 summer 2014
We are the largest and most successful College apprenticeship provider in west London and offer training in over 20 industry sectors, attracting learners and employers from across west London. We provide employers with potential apprenticeship candidates and also work with them to train their existing staff through the apprenticeship scheme. Our team of expert Business Account Managers advise, support and deliver skills and recruitment services to small, medium and large employers and we also design and deliver customised training for employers to support their workforce development needs. Many of our part-time learners are sponsored by companies who support their continuing professional development. As many jobs in the future are likely to be at a higher level and require more flexible skills, we are well placed to raise aspiration and achievement, promote employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship.
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Issue One Summer 2014
West London
A NEW COMMUNITY FOR UXBRIDGE AT ST ANDREW’S PARK
Around 1,300 new homes will be delivered, alongside a primary school, 40-acre public park, office park, theatre and community facilities. www.standrewsuxbridge.com www.stmodwen.co.uk
Issue One Summer 2014
St. Modwen’s £150 million regeneration of the former RAF Uxbridge site is creating a sustainable new community.
Recordplayer The Old Vinyl Factory – chart topper in Hayes