Category Archives: Uncategorized

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. 
 

Hillingdon petition scheme: proposed changes

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From HARA

PETITIONS
The Council has now Proposed Changes to Hillingdon’s Petition Scheme
https://modgov.hillingdon.gov.uk/documents/s66975/260709%20-%2006%20-%20Report%20of%20Head%20of%20Democratic%20Services.pdf

The Hillingdon Alliance of Residents’ Associations has launched a petition regarding proposed changes to the Council’s Residents’ Petition Scheme, which will be voted on by all Councillors at the full Council meeting on Thursday 9th July.

The proposals would increase local and planning petition thresholds from 20 signatures to 50, and borough wide petitions from 100 to 500. Automatic petition hearings would also be removed and replaced with either a written response or a site visit.

At last month’s Cabinet meeting, the Council spoke about increasing transparency, improving visibility and reinforcing accountability so that residents can have greater confidence in decision making. As the umbrella body representing residents’ associations across Hillingdon, we believe it is reasonable to ask whether significantly raising petition thresholds and removing automatic public hearings aligns with that commitment.

Petitions are one of the few formal mechanisms through which residents can collectively raise concerns and secure direct engagement with elected Members in a public forum.

We invite residents to review the petition and sign it – see https://www.change.org/hillingdon-petition-changes

Orchard/Premier Inn/LIDL

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we have received this information from Ruislip residents but the plans will have a severe impact on traffic etc through Ickenham
We supported the opposition to the development last time
 

Lidl is very much back in Ruislip — in fact, it appears it never really left. It has purchased The Orchard site, and this morning it began delivering 5,000 leaflets to local households inviting residents to give feedback on its latest pre‑application draft proposals.

Two articles are on the Ruislip Residents’ Association website.

Lidl to Begin Leaflet Drop to 5000 Households This Week: Residents Encouraged to Give Feedback on Early Draft Proposals | Ruislip Residents’ Association
https://www.ruislipresidents.org.uk/lidl-to-begin-leaflet-drop-to-5000-households-this-week-residents-encouraged-to-give-feedback-on-early-draft-proposals/

and

Lidl Local Consultation Has Begun: 5,000 Leaflets are being Delivered – Residents Encouraged to Review and Comment | Ruislip Residents’ Association

https://www.ruislipresidents.org.uk/lidl-local-consultation-has-begun-5000-leaflets-are-being-delivered-residents-encouraged-to-review-and-comment/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSVLGVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETB1dGUyNHpPak83Rmc0UE5ac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsjbisPfVcK55qxf5jogvu_Gjs1KtvloAq_y7iPMMAVrEGcIGhutccWBUqiY_aem_PmYUy326pqHAAmsvyU3ZWA

The latter includes PDF copies of the consultation form and the leaflet that have started arriving through letterboxes today. From what we’re seeing on social media, some residents in Ickenham have already received their copies as well.

This is an important moment for residents to understand what Lidl are proposing and to provide feedback before any planning application is submitted. Feel free to share this information with your members.

The Ruislip Residents’ Association (RRA) has quickly reviewed the new leaflet.

While Lidl highlights design tweaks, landscaping and memorial features, the key issues that led Hillingdon Council to refuse the 2025 application remain unaddressed.

The plans still propose demolishing a building with recognised wartime historical significance, replacing it with a design that does not reflect the character of the Ruislip Village Conservation Area.

Most concerning is the lack of any meaningful improvement to traffic, access or safety. This stretch of Ickenham Road is already heavily congested, and the previous refusal cited unsafe right‑turn movements, risks of queues backing onto the White Bear Roundabout, and conflicts with pedestrians and cyclists.

Lidl’s revised material offers no new solutions.