Economy

The existing Hillingdon Local Plan sets out the council’s policy approach to: 

  • promoting economic development and employment in Hillingdon
  • supporting businesses of a range of sizes to grow and invest
  • the provision and protection of employment premises and sites
  • supporting job creation and opportunities for training and skills development
  • supporting tourism and providing visitor accommodation
  • protecting the vitality and viability of town centres, high streets and local parades.

Existing approach 

Key policies include: 

  • Policy DME 1 protects industrial uses in Strategic Industrial Locations, Locally Significant Industrial Sites and Locally Significant Employment Locations
  • Policy DME 2 facilitates the reuse of employment land outside of designated areas subject to certain criteria
  • Policy DME 3 supports and protects offices in preferred locations, including town centres, Uxbridge and Stockley Park and establishes a sequential approach for office development outside of these locations
  • Policy DME 4, 5, and 6 sets out where visitor attractions and accommodation should be located, limiting impacts, and ensuring accessibility
  • Policy DMTC 1 directs retail and town centre uses to Hillingdon’s network of town centres and high streets
  • Policy DMTC 2 balances the mix of uses in primary and secondary frontages in designated centres, with DMTC 3 protecting local centres and parades
  • Policy DMTC 4 protects the amenity of town centres by controlling uses with potential negative externalities such as hot food takeaways, night clubs, and betting shops.

Key challenges 

Key challenges for the new Local Plan are thought to include:  

  • harnessing Hillingdon’s strategic location in West London to boost high productivity growth sectors and to support economic clusters in line with the Hillingdon Growth Plan, London Growth Plan, and Invest 2035 (the Government’s plan for growth)
  • consideration of the range of impacts arising from proposals for expansion of Heathrow Airport, taking account of a revised Airports National Policy Statement which is expected to be published in 2026
  • the office market has changed following the COVID-19 pandemic, with businesses seeking less floorspace overall, located in highly accessible locations and in high quality buildings
  • understanding and accommodating any new and evolving needs for commercial, business and service floorspace
  • Hillingdon has a large amount of industrial land with relatively low vacancies, which should be protected and intensified in accordance with the London Plan 
  • data centres are an essential piece of digital infrastructure to support the UK’s service-based economy. Demand for data centres has increased in recent years in Hillingdon, with impacts on industrial sites, character and amenity, and the energy network
  • demand for serviced accommodation linked to Heathrow Airport is strong, with impacts on the transport network and land for other uses
  • ensuring town centres and high streets are vital and viable places for certain uses against out of centre retail competition, changing consumer preferences and the rise of online shopping
  • managing town centres so they can host daytime, evening and night-time activities when appropriate
  • reviewing the role of local parades, local and district town centres to ensure they remain important destinations for residents, who may otherwise face poor access to services.

What the new Local Plan could achieve 

One of the commitments of the council strategy is for a thriving economy, where businesses grow within a strong economy and local people can improve their skills and enjoy good quality jobs. 

The Local Plan could: 

  • implement the vision of the Hillingdon Growth Plan of ‘global gateway meets local opportunity’, by supporting: 
  • the Creative Cluster and frontier innovation at Hayes, Stockley Park, and the Old Vinyl Factory
  • the WestTech London corridor at Uxbridge and the Brunel Quarter
  • modern logistics and supply chains at the Heathrow Economic Activity Zone
  • unique urban and village experience at Ruislip, Northwood and Harefield
  • protect and modernise offices and industrial in key locations to support the economy
  • ensure that data centres and other unique uses are located and designed appropriately
  • manage the development of tourist accommodation, particularly around Heathrow Airport
  • protect and enhance town centres, ensuring they remain busy, vibrant and valued centres of the community.

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