Former RAF bases to be used for housing near Uxbridge and Hayes

Hillingdon Council will bring the historic former RAF sites back to life to meet housing demand.

The sites purchased include Hyde Park Hayes 3, commonly known as HPH3 Hayes, on Millington Road, which will immediately boost the council’s housing stock with 113 properties, and the former St Andrews RAF residential site on Grays Road, Uxbridge, which has future development potential.

Both sites will support the council’s commitment to creating new and affordable homes for residents in the borough.

HPH3 Hayes was acquired with the support of Greater London Authority (GLA) funding. It will enable residents at risk of homelessness who are currently living in high-cost temporary accommodation to move into more sustainable properties alongside eligible residents on the council’s housing waiting list.

The site also provides future residents with extensive car parking and cycle storage facilities and development opportunities for the council to increase the number of homes available.

In Uxbridge, the council has secured land previously used by the Ministry of Defence to house serving personnel for future redevelopment. Currently consisting of 89 derelict homes built between the 1920s and 1950s, the council will explore plans to transform the area and provide new affordable homes ranging from one-bedroom to large family-sized dwellings, subject to planning permission. Some will be available on the open market while the rest will be rented at London affordable rent.

The key strategic location of this area will mean redevelopment will continue to unlock access to Uxbridge town centre, providing the wider local community with enhanced accessibility to the high street and Civic Centre.

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “We are committed to preventing homelessness and rapidly increasing the supply of affordable housing so our residents can live in safe and strong communities.

“We are taking innovative steps to tackle the shortage of housing, and both these sites pose great opportunities for the council.

“HPH3 Hayes allows us to immediately reduce our housing waiting list and move residents out of costly temporary accommodation, while RAF Uxbridge is an exciting long-term opportunity to restore a historic site, which has not been in use since the 1990s, and boost footfall to the town centre.”

The developments will form part of the council’s commitment to address housing shortages by purchasing 300 homes for 2024/25 and a wider three-year plan to deliver 500 additional homes.

Photo by Acool rocket on Unsplash

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