| Development proposals on the Marshes The Marshes are a patchwork of about 40 fields between Ickenham and Ruislip in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The Ickenham Marsh Local Nature Reserve https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/ickenham-marsh lies at the centre of the area. The Stafford Road Open Space sits in the south east corner. Much of the area is privately owned, with several footpaths enabling the public to enjoy this treasured landscape. The Marshes also form part of the Crane Valley; an important West London river catchment, with an excellent network of green corridor footpaths, which give public access from the Marshes to Harrow or all the way down to the Thames. For many years, the Association has been working in partnership with land owners, manager and other groups to enhance the area, to protect and enhance the superb ecological and amenity value. More details on are available on the Marshes website: Ickenham Marshes https://ickenhammarshes.wordpress.com/ The proximity of the Marshes to residential areas and local train stations is a key reason why the area it is so popular with visitors. This is also the reason why the Greater London Authority (GLA), in its Draft London Plan, has proposed that land “East of Ickenham” should be developed, to help meet the housing needs of Hillingdon and the wider area. Further details are available here: Draft London Plan consultation | London City Hall https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/planning/london-plan/next-london-plan/draft-london-plan-consultation We are also aware that for several months now, ecological surveys have been underway, presumably commissioned by local landowners. Although the Marshes field boundaries have remained largely unchanged since the 1780 enclosures, this is not the first time that development has been proposed in the area. A key difference now, is that central government has changed the rules on green belt, and is proposing further changes relating to land close to train stations. Under the proposals set out in the draft London Plan, Hillingdon has the largest increase in annual housing targets of any borough; more than doubling from 1,083 homes to 2,403. The draft also suggests that over the next ten years 14,750 of these new homes should be built on greenfield sites. This is in the context of what is widely described as a national housing crisis, which is being felt most acutely in the south east of England. Although there is some debate about the extent that housebuilding levels impact on house prices, according to the Office for National Statistics, average house prices in Hillingdon have risen from £120,000 in 2000, to over £500,000 today. Average earnings have gone from £25k to £40k over the same period. The Draft London Plan also sets out expectations on building heights, density levels, affordable housing levels and the amount of green space within development. It’s also worth noting that there are laws on ‘biodiversity net gain’, which mean that, after land it developed, it’s biodiversity value should increase. Given the extraordinary biodiversity of the Marshes, it will be fascinating to find out more about how these provisions are being considered by developers and authorities alike. There is uncertainty about the evidence and assumptions underpinning what the GLA have set out in the draft London Plan. Boroughs and the public currently have the chance to respond to the consultation, and the London Plan will not come into force until it, and it’s supporting evidence base have been rigorously tested at a public examination by a panel of independent planning inspectors. We will continue to engage closely with the Council on this matter, including seeking a better understanding of the amount of brownfield land that is available in Hillingdon, noting that national planning policy still firmly expects a brownfield development first approach. We will also be engaging with LBH on the emerging Hillingdon Local Plan, which will need to allocate land for housing and other development across the borough for the next ten years. More details are available here: Scoping consultation | Local Plan and Review | Hillingdon Council . https://pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-plan-review/4 This local plan is long overdue; a consequence of which is that our area is already subject to more relaxed planning rules because of a lack of identified land for housing. |
Planning updates to 20-07-2026
Re: hosepipe ban
As you are probably aware, the hose pipe ban comes into effect today. However, if you qualify, you can be added to the priority.services register and still use your hose pipe (within reason)
More info: https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/priority-services
How to apply
- Online – apply for Priority Services with My Account
- https://myonlineaccount.affinitywater.co.uk/login
- Send a form – download the Priority Services Register form PDF, fill it out and post it to: Advanced Care Team, Affinity Water, Tamblin Way, Hatfield, Herts AL10 9EZ.
Or call – 0345 357 2406
Long Lane closed
| Long Lane northbound from Hillingdon circus currently closed burst water main – large puddle south bound – diversion via Swakeleys roundabout |
Ickenham Road closure
| A reminder that the following will come into operation this Saturday Saturday 18 July to Sunday 2 August Ickenham Road, Ruislip Cadent Gas to temporarily close Ickenham Road, Ruislip,from the junction of High Street to the junction of Church Avenue. 2. Diversion route will be in place via High Street, Kingsend, Ickenham Road.Westbound Closure Only Nothing in the Order shall apply to prevent vehicular access to premises on or adjacent to the prohibited length of road insofar as access is reasonably practicable without interference with the said works. 3. The temporary restriction will be in operation between 08:00hrs on the 18th July 2026 to 17:00hrs, on the 2nd August 2026 and to such extent as indicated by traffic signs prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. Road users should assume that the closure has been put into effect only if traffic signs have been erected stating that the road has been closed and the diversion route, if necessary is in place more info: https://pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/downloads/file/2948/ickenham-road-ruislip-road-closure |
Planning updates to 13-07-2026
Summer closure of two main London stations
| Two major London stations are set to shut for three weeks this summer as part of a £20million upgrade, with commuters warned to expect disruption. London Charing Cross and Waterloo East will close from Sunday, July 26 until Sunday, August 16, while engineers carry out major improvement works. The closures will affect Southeastern services, with trains that normally run into Charing Cross being diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street and London Blackfriars instead. Some services will also terminate at London Bridge. Passengers are being urged to check their route before travelling, as alternative services will be in place throughout the closure. Here’s everything we know about the works. When are the stations closing? The main closures will last 22 days, from Sunday, July 26 to Sunday, August 16, to coincide with the summer holidays. But there will also be additional weekend closures before and after for preparation and follow-up work: But there will also be additional weekend closures before and after for preparation and follow-up work: Saturday, July 18 Sunday, July 19 Saturday, August 22 Sunday, August 23 Saturday, October 10 Sunday, October 11 Network Rail has warned that travel arrangements on these extra closure dates may be different from the main 22-day closure, so passengers should check before setting off. Why are Charing Cross and Waterloo East closing? The stations are closing to allow engineers to carry out a major £20million upgrade of the railway between them. The work will include replacing around 1,800 metres of track and installing 16 new sets of switches and crossings — the equipment that allows trains to move between different tracks. The new infrastructure will replace equipment that has been in place since 1990, which Network Rail says will help to improve reliability and keep journeys running smoothly. At Waterloo East, track drainage will also be upgraded to help maintain track quality and allow trains to continue running safely at full line speed. Meanwhile, parts of Charing Cross station will be rebuilt, with new foundations and surfaces installed at the country end of the platforms to keep them safe and accessible for passengers. Structural repairs will also be carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which takes the railway over the Thames, and the pedestrian link bridge between Waterloo East and London Waterloo. The work will keep the structures open for decades ahead, Network Rail says. What are the likely disruptions? No trains will call at London Charing Cross or Waterloo East while work is carried out. Instead, Southeastern services will be diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, and London Bridge. Southeastern has warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations. |
HS2 update: Harvil Road closure cancelled
| Cancelled Harvil Road Night Time Road Closures – The works that required the Night Time Closure of Harvil Road for 2 Nights this weekend have now been cancelled by HS2/SCS as it has found an alternative method of working that allows for the road to remain open while it carries materials to the track below for Railway Possession works. There are currently no plans to reschedule these works. |
LBH Waste and Recycling update
from LBH
Waste and recycling update – Jul 2026
Expanding household waste services
| We’re giving you more choice and making it easier to dispose of your household waste. From Wednesday 15 July, residents can use the Space Waye Reuse and Recycling Centre near Heathrow. The centre is open seven days a week, increasing access to waste and recycling services across the borough. We’ve also made our Pop-Up Waste Drop service permanent following a successful trial, where almost 29 tonnes of unwanted and bulky waste (equivalent to 1,800 washing machines) was collected from more than 920 visitors at 10 sessions. The free-to-use service will continue every two weeks, rotating across targeted locations throughout the borough. Look up your nearest session and see what you can bring. |
Improvements at civic amenity site
| Work to enhance accessibility to our Harefield Civic Amenity Site is set to begin this autumn, paving the way for future upgrades that will further improve residents’ experience. The first phase will see New Years Green Lane road widened to help alleviate traffic and reduce peak time congestion at the junction with Harvil Road, increasing safety for all road users. A section of the road immediately to the south of the facility will need to be temporarily closed to allow for the works to be carried out, but residents will still be able to access it via Harvil Road. The upgrade will also enable the next phase of approved plans for land next to the site to begin, including the demolition of unused buildings to create new staff facilities, an education hub, and new recycling bays. |
- Thursday 16 July, 10am to 4pm – Outside Waitrose, Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DS
- Wednesday 5 August, 10am to 2pm – Hillingdon Athletics Tracks (part of Playday)
- Thursday 13 August, 10am to 3pm – The Great Barn, Manor Farm, HA4 7SU (part of the Summer Reading Challenge)
- Saturday 19 September, 11am to 3pm – St Margaret’s Church, Uxbridge, UB8 1AB (part of Cleaner Greener Festival organised by Hillingdon’s Friends of the Earth)
- Thursday 29 October, 10am to 3pm – The Great Barn, Manor Farm, HA4 7SU (part of the Harry Potter event, organised by Hillingdon Libraries)
|Harefield civic amenity centre
https://pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/waste-recycling-centres/harefield-civic-amenity-site?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Pop-up Waste Drop
Drop off unwanted and bulky items for free, with our Pop-up Waste Drop visits around the borough.
This is a new mobile waste collection service for Hillingdon residents to conveniently drop-off unwanted and bulky items for free, without the need to visit a waste and recycling centre.
To use the service, residents will need proof of address or a Hillingdon First card and will need to be able to carry their items to the waste drop themselves.
Please note: Vans and commercial vehicles will not be able to use the service.
Pop-up visits
Our Pop-up Waste Drop truck will visit locations around the borough every 2 weeks between 10am and 2pm.
- 18 July – Court Park car park, Uxbridge, UB10 9JX
- 1 August – Northwood Hills Masjid and Community Centre, Joel Street, Northwood, HA6 1NL
- 15 August – Stockley Park car park, Chestnut Avenue, West Drayton, UB7 8BU
- 29 August – Charville Community Centre, Bury Avenue, Hayes, UB4 8LF
- 12 September – Pinkwell Park car park, Waltham Avenue, Hayes, UB3 1TF
- 26 September – Deane Park car park, Long Drive, Ruislip, HA4 0HS
- 10 October – The Closes car park, Church Close, West Drayton, UB7 7PY
- 24 October – Brookside Open Space car park, Brookside Road, Hayes, UB4 0PL
- 7 November – Haste Hill car park, The Drive, Northwood, HA6 1HN
Accepted items
Residents can bring up to 5 items per household, with accepted items including:
- small electrical appliances, such as toasters, kettles, laptops and TVs
- bulky waste, including furniture, mattresses, bagged carpet (no rolls) and white goods (eg fridges and freezers)
- household items not accepted in weekly collections (eg broken toys, wood, glass, textiles)
- scrap metal, old tools
- garden furniture and equipment.
Please note: 1 bag of rubbish counts as 1 item.
Unaccepted items
- General household rubbish
- Household dry mixed recycling
- Garden waste
- Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, asbestos, petrol or diesel)
- Car parts or tyres
- Pressurised containers
- Business waste
Ickenham Residents' Association 