Green light given to Hillingdon Gardens for a diverse, landscape-led quarter
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Green light given to Hillingdon Gardens for a diverse, landscape-led quarter

Published on 7 February 2022

Plans submitted by JTP for Inland Homes to transform a brownfield site into an extension of the wider green network have received planning approval. The former Master Brewer site, once used as a commercial brewery, will bring forward a tenure-blind, landscape-led neighbourhood of 513 homes, flexible community spaces, with hard and soft landscaping including new green spaces, pedestrian links and biodiversity enhancements.

The new quarter – designed in collaboration with ColladoCollins Architects – will have a distinct character and identity, building on the already established Hillingdon Circus local centre and the wider communities of Hillingdon and Ickenham. Twelve buildings will vary between two and eleven storeys with a landmark structure marking the single point of access into the site. Unlike the other buildings – which are grouped in clusters with similar features – this is a unique L-shaped building with chamfered edges and facade features.

Adjacent to the masterplan’s Hillingdon Circus character area, the landmark building will be visible from a distance, providing a focal point of reference for the wider area. A square completes the entrance to the neighbourhood acting as a welcoming space that is anchored by a large willow tree that is being retained. The proposed grid of trees focusses views towards the square, allowing for the free movement of people. Mixed-use commercial spaces at ground floor level will enhance the offer of Hillingdon Circus, with paved surfaces allowing the activity to flow onto the street helping to create a vibrant atmosphere.

Uniquely situated as a site that could act as a vital connection point linking several London Wildlife Trust sites in the surrounding area, JTP, Inland Homes and the wider team worked closely with the organisation to enhance the landscape and establish a habitat that is rich and biodiverse. The 1.29 hectares of public landscape and natural corridors offer improvements to air quality, reduced vehicle movement and the inclusion of nature into the design to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Brewery Gardens forms the central green heart of the neighbourhood that helps draw the nearby country park into the centre of the site. It will be supported by The Wanders on the east-west corridors and The Meadow; an existing area of open green space rich in biodiversity which links the site to a wider network of green infrastructure. Landscaping is key in these places, with all trees and planting designed to create a natural habitat that supports the local ecosystem.

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The transformation of this currently vacant brownfield land will add a meaningful contribution to the housing needs in the local community. Enhancing the site’s surrounding landscape and green network has been a key ambition of the team from the beginning and it is wonderful that we can unlock the area’s potential in delivering a large proportion of public green spaces.
Ian Fenn, Partner at JTP