HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

Regional Guidance
2.46 RPG9 – Revised Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (March 1994) endorses the
earlier objectives in RPG9 (1989) including fostering economic growth and revitalising older urban areas.
RPG9 recognises the need to maintain and develop both the South East's economy and London's role as a
major world city and national capital. "Development and regeneration are essential to replace recent job
losses and to achieve economic growth" (para 1.7). However RPG9 does advocate selective restraint on the
region's economic growth as justified by the need to maintain and protect the good environment and to
moderate increases in traffic congestion. A more selective approach to new development is considered
appropriate for parts of Outer London given the rise in traffic congestion and the need to relate
development to public transport needs (para 7.6).
Metropolitan Guidance
2.47 LPAC's 1994 Strategic Advice identifies a strong economy as part of its four-fold vision for
London. Advice promotes a geographic framework within which Outer and West London are covered by
principles of consolidation given the likelihood of congestion, development pressure and unbalanced local
economies. The revival of manufacturing is considered to be particularly important to the growth and
broadening of London's economic base and an important element in the urban regeneration process is
resisting the loss of industrial land in West London.
2.48 Two of the key objectives in draft revised RPG3 (March 1995) are particularly significant to the
Borough; firstly "to maintain and enhance the competitiveness of business, including encouraging
manufacturing, services, tourism, culture and the arts" and secondly "to promote urban regeneration by
encouraging the redevelopment of derelict and vacant land, especially in the ...... parts of West and South
London that are suffering from structural decline". (para 1.23). There is recognition that West London does
have a major role in London's economy through the regeneration of older industrial areas and opportunities
for re-using existing land. Guidance encourages development in those parts of West London where it will
capitalise on its locational advantage and create manufacturing employment opportunities of a benefit to
London as a whole and to the South East. Heathrow Airport's role in the West London economy has given
the area an international attractiveness, yet brought with it road congestion and pressure on land resources.
The Council recognises the importance of Heathrow to the local economy, but also the need to maintain
diversity and stability within it, by ensuring a stronger local employment bias.
2.49 West London has significant 'wedges' or 'corridors' all of which have a high regeneration
priority. Within Hillingdon, the Hayes/West Drayton Corridor has been identified as the most important
area for regeneration in RPG3 (1996) (Para 2.51 and Map 2). The Corridor has recently been afforded SRB
status and funding (see Chapter 15 of this Plan).
2.50 Guidance endorses the principles of sustainable development and an integrated approach to land
use and transport outlined latterly in PPG13 (1994) by stating that development should minimise the harm
to the environment and reduce the need to travel and dependence on private motor vehicles. With regard to
London's economy, boroughs are required to take particular account of the following:-
#ensure jobs and houses are accessible to each other, thereby reducing need to travel and
encouraging development in areas served by energy efficient modes of transport;
#links with educational and training provision (for example Training and Enterprise Councils -
TECs);
#encourage manufacturing in London;
#creation and maintenance of a good working environment;
#encouragement of suitable opportunities for small businesses.
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan