| Concrete & Drainage installation works at West Ruislip Portal for Ickenham Stream Diversion – Extended Hours Mon 10/08 to Fri 09/10 HS2/SCS will be carrying out several activities at the West Ruislip Portal Site to facilitate the permanent Ickenham Stream Diversion over the coming months, with the installation of Sheet Piles between the Network Rail Line and the Golf Course (adjacent to The Greenway) now completed (1 month ahead of schedule). HS2/SCS now need to pour concrete to form the base slab, walls and roof slab that will surround the pipe, and install drainage. These works will take place using Extended Hours between 8am & 10pm Monday to Saturday between 10/08 and 09/10. These activities are not expected to be noisy but with the Extended Hours there will be working in the evening through to 10pm. Below is a Programme showing the activities taking place relating to the Ickenham Stream Diversion: Excavation works (completed July 2026) Drainage and reinforced concrete works (August 2026) Pipework installation (September 2026) Backfilling and sheet pile removal (October 2026) Shaft construction (November 2026) There will be further updates as the works progress and if any of these activities require outside of Core Hour Working. |
M25 closures
| Junctions close to us highlighted in bold and underlined below Drivers using the M25 are being warned to plan ahead, with a series of overnight closures affecting several sections of the motorway from Friday, August 7, to Monday, August 10. The planned roadworks will commence on Friday night into Saturday, seeing the clockwise carriageway between Junction 25 (Waltham Abbey) and Junction 26 (Waltham Abbey/Loughton) shut from 10pm until 6am. Closures at Junction 3 (M20/Swanley) to Junction 2 (A2/Dartford), Junction 9 (Leatherhead) to Junction 8 (Reigate), Junction 6 (Godstone) to Junction 7 (M23), and through Junction 11 (Chertsey) will follow at 11pm, reopening by early morning. The anti-clockwise link road between Junction 31 (Lakeside) and Junction 30 (A13) will close from 11pm, reopening at 5:30am. On Saturday night into Sunday, the anti-clockwise carriageway will be closed between Junction 16 (M40) to Junction 15 (M4), the anti-clockwise slip road from Junction 16 to the M40 westbound, and through Junction 11 (Chertsey) from 10pm, with the closures between J16 and J15 and the slip road reopening at 5:30am, and the closure through J11 reopening at 6am. Sunday night will see the anti-clockwise carriageway through Junction 11 (Chertsey) again closed from 10.30pm to 5.30am. |
HS2 reset info’
From HS2
Our latest programme update.
In May 2026, the government announced that HS2 will take longer to build and cost more than previously planned. In our latest project update video, our CEO Mark Wild explains the reset in more detail, what it means for the programme going forward and the progress we’re making.
Watch the video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOC6Il0Vy2I
This reset gives us a credible schedule, so there is now more certainty about overall build timings and when construction near your will finish. We will continue to update you as more detail becomes available on what this means for your area specifically.
Learn more about how we are building the railway
https://www.hs2.org.uk/how-were-building-the-railway/#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=7d91ab79-e728-4f08-8402-5123f1660300
Planning updates to 03-08-2026
Uxbridge post office facilities
| Two temporary Post Office counters are due to open in the Civic Centre in Uxbridge on Thursday 6 August from 9am, after Hillingdon Council stepped in to ensure the continuation of the vital service following the closure of the High Street branch in May. The council has worked very closely alongside Post Office Ltd since TG Jones announced the previous branch would close, exploring potential options for a temporary location while a permanent home is sought. Subject to smooth setup and testing, the counters will be available from next Thursday and located at the top of the stairs and ramp, near the entrance to Uxbridge Library. They will be open to the public from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, and offer 95 per cent of the services available at any permanent post office. The Post Office will look to open a permanent branch at a new location later this year. |
Ickenham road closures
| you have probably all been already affected by at least one of these over the last week there are more planned please see map on link below https://cadentgas.com/whats-happening-near-you and check the dates on each site these do not appear on the LBH list of road works / closures May we suggest you keep an eye on this map as it will be updated as things change thanks |
Ickenham Marshes development proposal, August update
Association representatives held a constructive meeting with ward councillors Cllrs Eddie Lavery and Jane Palmer on 30 July to discuss the recent Greater London Authority (GLA) proposal for development around Ickenham. LBH’s position on the matter has been made clear in a recent press release: Council challenges Mayor’s plan over significant threat to Hillingdon’s green belt | Hillingdon Council
We very much support the Council’s position and look forward to further engagement on the subject over the coming months. As with our stance on HS2, we remain opposed in principle, but should further development proposals come forward at the “east of Ickenham” or “west Ruislip” locations identified in the GLA’s emerging London Plan, we will engage positively in any formal or informal processes; seeking to maximise mitigation, public engagement and public benefit.
We have asked the Council to, as soon as possible, make available further information about development opportunities in the borough, through the Hillingdon local plan preparation process, so it is clear how much brownfield land is available for development locally.
We have also suggested that a public meeting be held in September, to allow local people to discuss the current situation and hear more about next steps, before the current London Plan consultation closes on 15 October. Further details will be made available soon.
We will also make representations to the GLA, including requesting information on what background work has been carried out to understand the current nature and amenity value of the Marshes, and the flood risk and access challenges that would need to be overcome for any development to take place.
Details of the public footpaths in the area are shown on the Marshes map below. For more detailed information about the public rights of way on the Marshes, which were established by LBH in 2019 following a formal request by the Association, visit https://pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/public-rights-way/definitive-map-statement

We intend to write to the relevant local land agents to request that permissive public access to the fields is maintained. This has, for decades, provided positive health and well-being benefits for local people and important natural surveillance to reduce antisocial behavior.
HS2 update: West Ruislip and a bit of HOAC
Concrete & Drainage installation works at West Ruislip Portal for Ickenham Stream Diversion – Extended Hours Mon 10/08 to Fri 09/10
HS2/SCS will be carrying out several activities at the West Ruislip Portal Site to facilitate the permanent Ickenham Stream Diversion over the coming months, with the installation of Sheet Piles between the Network Rail Line and the Golf Course (adjacent to The Greenway) now completed (1 month ahead of schedule).
HS2/SCS now need to pour concrete to form the base slab, walls and roof slab that will surround the pipe, and install drainage. These works will take place using Extended Hours between 8am & 10pm Monday to Saturdaybetween 10/08 and 09/10.
These activities are not expected to be noisy but with the Extended Hours there will be working in the evening through to 10pm.
Below is a Programme showing the activities taking place relating to the Ickenham Stream Diversion:
- Excavation works (completed July 2026)
- Drainage and reinforced concrete works (August 2026)
- Pipework installation (September 2026)
- Backfilling and sheet pile removal (October 2026)
- Shaft construction (November 2026)
There will be further updates as the works progress and if any of these activities require outside of Core Hour Working.

- Not strictly HS2 related but HS2 building the Colne Valley Viaduct brought about closure of the previous Site at Harefield Lake No.2
- Redevelopment of the site to create the Hillingdon Watersports Facility and Activity Centre including demolition of existing Broadwater Lake Sailing Club (BSC) clubhouse at the north of the lake and erection of a building including changing facilities, meeting rooms, storage, Workshop and seasonal worker accommodation (sui generis), activity shelters; installation of pontoons and slipways; boat shed; equipment storage huts; boat parking and racking areas; camping area; outdoor activity areas; ecological enhancement throughout the site; new pedestrian routes through the peninsula; landscaping including new woodland, dense vegetation screens and boundary treatment; access road; localised dredging and land reclamation; relocation of existing sailing area and creation of floating reedbeds within the lake; coach drop off and turning area; vehicle parking; cycle parking; and associated works
- This is a re-consultation following submission of amended plans and documents (original submission 2023 & amended version 2025)
- LBH Planning Team – ref: 2382/APP/2023/2906
- The Public Consultation was open for comments from 25/11/25 until 09/01/26
Update June 2026 – There has been a resolution to grant approval at the Hillingdon Planning Committee, subject to legal agreement and referral to the SoS and GLA
Piccadilly closures
| Heathrow passengers to face severe disruption as major Tube closures begin this week and Piccadilly line closures London Underground passengers travelling to Heathrow this week are being warned of major disruption due to closures. From Thursday, July 30 until Sunday, August 2 the Piccadilly line will close between Acton Town and Heathrow, and between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge while engineers test new trains being introduced later this year. The section between Acton Town and Cockfosters is open on Thursday, but will then shut between Friday and Monday, August 3 meaning the entire line is out of action between Friday and Sunday. These closures also affect Night Tube services. Transport for London said the complex upgrade and testing programme is essential to ensure the line is ready for the first new trains to enter service in December. In May, transport bosses confirmed engineers had already carried out weight-loading testing to simulate the carriages being full with passengers, and that 119 platforms had been prepared to accommodate the new trains. Londoners thankfully have other options such as the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express to get to and from the airport, but the Piccadilly line closure will affect passengers needing to travel overnight on Friday and Saturday. The N9 bus from Heathrow to Piccadilly Circus will be the best option for many due to the closure. Other alternatives include National Express and FlixBus coaches or taking a taxi. The upcoming closure is the longest planned for this summer but there are two midweek closures next month which will affect commuter. The stretch between Cockfosters and Uxbridge will shut between Tuesday, August 18 and Thursday, August 20 and the following week from Tuesday, August 25 until Thursday, August 27. TfL has confirmed the new trains being introduced between December and June next year will feature walk-through carriages, wider doorways, onboard digital display screens and CCTV. Each train will also have 10 per cent extra capacity, while the increased fleet size will allow frequency to increase from 24 to 27 trains per hour. Stuart Harvey, TfL’s chief capital officer, said: “I’d like to thank our customers for their patience while we carry out these essential upgrades to the Piccadilly line and rigorously test the new trains which will transform journeys for many decades to come. Introducing a new fleet of trains is a huge engineering and logistical feat which inevitably requires upgrades and intensive testing. “Although much of the hard work goes on behind the scenes, there are times when we need to close sections of the railway to ensure that these pioneering new trains can operate effectively and interact correctly with a wide range of complex infrastructure. “We are very confident that once this intensive period of upgrades and testing is completed, and the new trains start to enter service, our customers will reap the benefits of moving around the capital on these game-changing new trains.” |