Hillingdon Council has announced its opposition to the Mayor of London's draft London Plan, warning that it would place a disproportionate burden on the borough by requiring more green belt development than anywhere else in London while failing to address the uncertainty surrounding Heathrow expansion.
The Mayor's strategy, published for consultation, sets out his vision for housing, employment, transport and infrastructure across the capital over the next decade.
It proposes a housing target of 24,030 homes in Hillingdon over 10 years – equivalent to 2,403 homes a year, more than double the borough's current London Plan target. It also identifies that 61 per cent of these homes should be delivered on the borough's green spaces, the largest green belt allocation proposed for any London borough.
The council is preparing a robust response to the consultation, challenging why Hillingdon has been singled out for such a disproportionate level of green belt development, and arguing that planning decisions must be evidence-led, locally informed and supported by the infrastructure communities need.
The council recognises the need for more homes and sustainable economic growth. Its recently launched Growth Plan sets out a locally-led vision focused on delivering Hillingdon homes for Hillingdon people by prioritising brownfield development, making appropriate use of grey belt where justified and protecting the borough's valued green belt wherever possible.
The council is also concerned that the draft London Plan fails to recognise, or adequately plan for, the potentially significant impact Heathrow expansion could have on Hillingdon's communities, infrastructure and environment.
Residents can also have their say on the Mayor's draft London Plan before the consultation closes on Thursday 15 October at consult.london.gov.uk/londonplan.
Leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Steve Tuckwell, said: "This draft London Plan is another example of the Mayor trying to dictate Hillingdon's future from City Hall, with little regard for the people who actually live here.
"No-one disputes that London needs more homes. The question is where they should go.
“The Mayor's answer appears to be 'Hillingdon', expecting our borough to sacrifice more green belt than anywhere else in London while other boroughs are expected to do nowhere near as much. There is no evidence to justify placing such a disproportionate burden on Hillingdon and its residents.
"Our priority has always been Hillingdon homes for Hillingdon people. That's exactly what our own Growth Plan is designed to deliver, providing the homes local families need, in the right places, while protecting the character of our borough and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth. That is a far more credible approach than simply imposing ever-higher housing targets from City Hall.
"Our green belt isn't spare land waiting to be built on. It protects our communities from urban sprawl, supports wildlife, improves air quality and provides the open spaces that residents value. Once it's gone, it's gone for good.
"What makes this even more extraordinary is that the Mayor is asking Hillingdon to absorb thousands more homes while failing to address the enormous uncertainty surrounding Heathrow expansion and the profound impact it could have on our borough. You cannot produce a credible plan for Hillingdon's future while ignoring what, if approved, would be the largest infrastructure project in Europe.
"Hillingdon has never shied away from delivering growth, but it must be the right growth. We will always prioritise brownfield land first, make sensible use of appropriate grey belt where justified by the evidence and ensure development is shaped by local people, not arbitrary targets imposed from City Hall.
"We'll be making the strongest possible case during this consultation, and I urge every resident to have their say. This is about standing up for Hillingdon, protecting what makes our borough special and ensuring local people – not the Mayor – have the strongest voice in shaping its future."
Residents can also take part in the council's Local Plan consultation, which runs until Friday 21 August. Feedback will help shape an up-to-date planning framework that reflects local priorities while protecting the borough's unique character. More information is available at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/localplanconsultation.