HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS TO WATERSIDE AREAS;
BUILDING DESIGNS WHICH COMPLEMENT THE VISUAL QUALITIES OF THE
RIVERSIDE;
PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATERSIDE LINKED TO THE FOOTPATH NETWORK
IN THE SURROUNDING AREA;
A MINIMUM 6 METRES OF LAND RESERVED AND LANDSCAPED ALONGSIDE
RIVERS, SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS; AND
TO ENHANCE OR CREATE VIEWS THROUGH AND FROM THE
DEVELOPMENT, FROM AND TOWARDS THE WATERCOURSE.
Road and Rail Corridors
5.41 Views from the Borough's main roads and railways generally provide Londoners and visitors from
elsewhere with their first impression of Hillingdon. Like the rivers and canals, they offer potential for high
standards of design and landscape improvement which can enhance this impression. (See Paras. 5.18 and
5.19 and Policies BE16 and BE17). The London Borough of Hillingdon acts as the most important
"gateway" into the U.K., London and the South East due to the location of Heathrow Airport. The road and
rail connections to Heathrow provide millions of visitors from all over the world with their first impression
of London and the U.K. It is thus considered to be of vital importance that this "first impression" is fitting
for that of London's status as a World City.
5.42 London is competing with other European and World Cities for inward investment. A better
quality environment along the Heathrow gateway corridor will also improve the ability of London to attract
the organisations and investment which provide wealth creating opportunities. Some of the road corridors
have been identified as 'Areas of Environmental Opportunity' (see para 3.17) and the Local Planning
Authority will undertake further studies to see whether areas adjoining other transport routes should also be
specifically identified for environmental improvements.
5.43 In April 1995, the Council approved the A4 Heathrow Corridor Environmental Enhancement
scheme as supplementary planning guidance. The scheme is being implemented through a partnership
comprising Groundwork Colne Valley, Heathrow Airport Ltd., the Department of Transport and the
Council and aims to create a distinctive and positive image for the A4/Heathrow Corridor through a coordinated
landscape enhancement scheme. This scheme is the first to reflect the importance of the A4
Corridor as an important gateway to Heathrow and London. Developments adjacent to these corridors
should therefore be of high visual quality in terms of bulk, design, layout and landscape. Wherever the
opportunity arises, attractive views and important landmarks should be opened up from these transport
corridors. (See RPG3 (1996) Para. 7.14).
BE35 WHEN CONSIDERING PROPOSALS FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ADJACENT TO
AND VISIBLE FROM MAJOR ROAD AND RAIL CONNECTIONS TO HEATHROW AND
CENTRAL LONDON, NAMELY THE M4 AND HEATHROW SPUR, THE A4, THE A40, THE
PADDINGTON TO BRISTOL AND THE MARYLEBONE TO BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY LINES
AND THE HEATHROW EXPRESS LINK, THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL SEEK
TO ENSURE:
(i)
(ii)
THAT DEVELOPMENT IS OF A HIGH STANDARD OF DESIGN, LAYOUT AND
LANDSCAPE;
THAT WHERE OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, ATTRACTIVE VIEWS AND
IMPORTANT LOCAL LANDMARKS ARE OPENED UP FROM THESE
TRANSPORT CORRIDORS.
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan