Hayes Town centre tops out

Hillingdon Council’s redevelopment of two Hayes estates has reached a major milestone. A topping-out ceremony on Friday, November 15, marked the first phase of construction reaching its highest structural point.

The ceremony, a builders’ rite of passage, signifies the installation of the final beam or brick in a new structure. Importantly, for local residents, it means their modern, new homes are a step closer to completion.

The first construction phase will create 110 much-needed new homes in the borough, with 80 properties at Hayes Town Centre estate and an additional 30 at Avondale Drive. The delivery of the site’s affordable homes has been prioritised in phase one as part of the council’s drive to tackle the local housing shortage.

The project will transform the area by providing 740 new homes, 50 per cent affordable, and public spaces for the community across both estates.

The leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ian Edwards, was joined by Cllr Jonathan Bianco, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for corporate Services and property; Cllr Steve Tuckwell, the council’s cabinet member for planning, housing and growth; Deputy Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Philip Corthorne; and representatives from Higgins Partnerships, with whom the council is working to build the properties at the event.

Cllr Tuckwell said, “Our priority was to ensure that affordable homes for local people were included in the first phases of development.

“Council properties are in high demand, and creating new homes is a key part of our strategy to create safe and strong communities and prevent homelessness, so I’m delighted to see these works progress.”

Declan Higgins, chief executive officer at Higgins Group, said: “We are delighted to reach this important milestone at Hayes Town Centre. This achievement brings us closer to delivering high-quality, sustainable homes and high-quality public spaces that will enhance the lives of residents and create a thriving, inclusive community.”

Both estates will feature new high-quality open spaces, improved pedestrian and cycle routes, secure car parking, landscaping, and children’s play areas. At Hayes Town Centre, a new community centre will also replace the existing one, providing enhanced facilities for residents.

The first phase of redevelopment is expected to be completed in Autumn 2025, and the whole project is estimated to run for approximately seven to nine years to reflect the decant and phased construction strategy.

Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.