Ickenham Marshes development proposal, August update

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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, 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 behaviour. 

HS2 update: West Ruislip and a bit of HOAC

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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

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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.”
 

Possible developments on Ickenham Marshes

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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. 
 

Re: hosepipe ban

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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

Or call – 0345 357 2406

Ickenham Road closure

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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