HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

2.35 Both PPG3 and PPG12 emphasise the role of the local planning authority and its development
plan in ensuring the effective use of urban land by allocating sufficient land for housing development
within the context of maintaining the character and amenities of existing residential areas. PPG3 in
particular encourages policies appropriate to local needs and requirements including low cost and
affordable housing.
2.36 Central Government policy contained in PPG17 'Sport and Recreation' (1991) is aimed at
securing maximum use of vacant land in urban areas, to sustain the vitality of our towns, and cities,
encourage urban regeneration, and reduce development pressures on the countryside, but not at the expense
of the quality of the urban environment. The Government attaches great importance to the retention of
adequate recreational open space in urban areas. Demand is concentrated there, and it is important that
people, particularly children and elderly people, should have access to open space close to where they live.
Once built on, open space is likely to be lost to the community forever.
Metropolitan Guidance
2.37 LPAC identifies a strategic network of town centres in its 1994 Advice, with Uxbridge
classified as a 'Strategic Centre' and Ruislip, Hayes and Yiewsley/West Drayton as 'District Town Centres'.
Advice endorses PPG6 (1993) in its recognition of the importance of sustaining the vitality and viability of
town centres. It also encourages Boroughs in reviewing U.D.P.'s, to consider strategies for regeneration
and consolidation of new town centres. Regeneration of Uxbridge Town Centre has commenced with the
establishment of the 'Uxbridge Initiative' and the SRB programme of regeneration for the Hayes/West
Drayton Corridor includes the centres of Hayes and Yiewsley/West Drayton.
2.38 Much of LPAC's advice outlines significant changes to the definition of and approach to
identifying open space and any deficiencies. The Council will take account of this advice in its first
review of the U.D.P.
2.39 Strategic Guidance for London (1989) states that existing town centres should continue to be the
main focus for the provision of shopping facilities and that plans should promote the modernisation and
refurbishment of town centres in ways that improve the environment and enhance the attractiveness of the
centres. It also recognises that not many people have the use of cars for shopping and the needs of such
shoppers should be met by shops which are easily accessible.
2.40 Strategic Planning Guidance (1989) included individual Borough housing allocations to be
incorporated in Unitary Development Plans. This Guidance accepts the advice of the London Planning
Advisory Committee (LPAC) which estimated London's capacity for extra dwellings between 1987 and
2001 at 260,000. In advising the Secretary of State on the appropriate housing figures to be included in
Strategic Planning Guidance, LPAC took the view that London's 'environmental capacity' for the provision
of new or converted dwellings should be the principal influence on future policy. This was endorsed in
Strategic Planning Guidance (1989) which stated that provision for housing development must respect the
framework of Borough policies for conservation of the environment and for the protection of Green Belt
and Metropolitan Open Land (SPG, para 53). Hillingdon's share of this figure was 8,000 dwellings (SPG,
paras 50, 51, Table 1). The Council will take account of revised housing allocations set out in Revised
Strategic Planning Guidance (May 1996) in its first review of the U.D.P.
2.41 Strategic Planning Guidance (1989) requires that the importance of sport and recreation
facilities is taken into account in formulating UDPs and that reference is made to the regional recreation
strategy "A Capital Prospect - London Playing Fields Strategy" (1990), prepared by the London Council for
Sport and Recreation (SPG, Para.79).
2.42 The Local Planning Authority's policies for the provision of housing, shopping, recreation and
other community facilities aim to meet the following objectives:
-to secure the retention and use of land within the developed area for housing, where it does
not conflict with other objectives, and to prevent the loss of existing housing;
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan