HS2 amenity funding has been successfully negotiated to benefit communities within the borough most impacted by HS2 construction works.
HS2 funding to Hillingdon Council
HS2 Ltd has agreed to make phased contributions to the council, up to a maximum of £2 million to enable measures to benefit the local community in the areas of the borough most effected by the impacts of HS2 construction works. These contributions are known as the Local Amenity Fund.
The jointly-agreed criteria for eligible projects is that the:
- focus of projects should serve the communities impacted by HS2, principally Harefield, Ruislip and Ickenham. Projects serving communities outside these areas will be considered on a case-by-case basis where links to the impacts from HS2 are accepted and agreed by both parties
- projects must benefit local residents and/or businesses.
Where possible, projects should seek to:
- serve a range of user groups and communities (this may be across multiple projects)
- mitigate against the loss of public amenity caused by the construction or operation of HS2
- be sustainable and long-term (include consideration of operational costs).
Projects that have been funded by the HS2 amenity fund:
- Bridge Enhancements
Enamel Murals telling ‘Ruislip Stories’ added to walls underneath bridges at South Ruislip tube station. - Footpath Improvements
Installation of a footpath to connect The Greenway to Hoylake Crescent and the Celandine Route in Ickenham. - Construction of 2 New Scout Huts
Demolish and rebuild of 2 Scout huts at the 2nd Ickenham Scouts Group and Endeavours Sea Cadets Scout Group in Uxbridge. - Roof installation
Replacing the old 30-year-old roof on the Brook House Football Club. - Ruislip Manor Bridge Lighting
Underneath of LU Bridge on Victoria Road to be illuminated.
Additional HS2 community and business funding
In March 2017, £40 million was made available for communities experiencing disruption from the construction of phase 1 of HS2. This is the line of route running from Euston Station in London, through to Curzon Street Station in Birmingham and up to Fradley in the West Midlands.
Projects in Hillingdon awarded from the HS2 community and environment fund and HS2 business and local enterprise fund include:
- £92,359 to Ickenham Cricket Club for their ground improvement project
- £16,990 to the Ickenham and District Society of Model Engineers for a Solar Energy system
- £17,728 to Ruislip Central Horticultural Society to deliver a program of flower shows and horticultural talks.
- £59,000 awarded to the London Borough of Hillingdon for transforming Bridgwater open space
- £10,390 to the 4th Eastcote Scout Group to deliver more scouting in West London
- £77,903 to Uxbridge Sports Club to upgrade its facilities.
Projects worth over £1million have been approved and publicly announced in Hillingdon since 2017.
Further information can be found on the Community and Business Funds page and interactive project map.
Other community investment activity
In addition to the formal HS2 funding there are also opportunities for HS2 contractors to partner up with local organisations in Hillingdon. The list highlights some of the community investment activity:
- donating fencing materials to the Dogs Trust
- improving facilities at Bourne Primary School - joint project with Dawson Wam. Laying astro turf in play area; erecting fencing for younger children play section; taking away two old garden sheds; weeding gardening school area; cutting back trees in car park and moving school sign in front drive
- donating timber posts and heras fencing at the Blue Acre Horse charity
- donating two pedestrian barriers to a resident on Breakspear Road South
- donating food to Hillingdon Foodbank on a regular basis, as well as volunteering
- as part of site demobilisation, Align have been donating items from its de-commissioned work sites, such as office furniture and kitchen appliances to a range of organisations across Hillingdon.