| 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. |
Ickenham Residents' Association 