View from the riverbank: Heathrow's crucial role in the region

Heathrow Airport has long been the goose that laid the golden egg by underpinning the Thames Valley and west of London property markets.

Pre-pandemic, 76,000 people worked at the airport and directly and indirectly it supports 114,000 local jobs. That converts into a killer statistic – that 200 of the UK’s top 300 companies have their head offices near Heathrow.

Whatever our view of the airport, the place we call Heathrow is one of the largest catalysts for growth in the south east property market and is behind so many investment decisions.

Post-pandemic it will change and question marks about the third runway, passenger usage and growth will remain.

But Heathrow will still be AAA rated. Situated next to Europe’s busiest motorway network and boasting integrated rail, its business case remains strong. Add into the mix the potential of Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH) and the residential growth in adjacent areas such as the London Borough of Hounslow, and one can understand how these areas will remain high on investors’ checklists.

Why not join us on November 26 at 11.30am for the first of three exclusive webinars we are holding in the last weeks of 2020. Joining us will be Nick Smith, fund manager, AIPUT, (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust), part of Aberdeen Standard Investments, which invests in property around the site.

Nick is joined by Cllr Steve Curran, leader of the London Borough of Hounslow and Ruth Bagley, director of Ardynt Consulting and chair of the Thames Valley Chamber Working Group, helping to secure the delivery of WRLtH.

We think it’s an excellent line up and we hope you’ll be interested in being part of the discussion. You can sign up here.

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