Higgins Partnerships and Hillingdon Council hold ‘spade in the ground’ event for two flagship regeneration schemes
Posted 02/04/2024
Higgins Partnerships and Hillingdon Council have officially marked the start of work on two major regeneration schemes in Hayes with a ‘spade in the ground’ event.
The start of work on the two developments follows extensive consultation on the designs and plans with residents on both estates. Avondale Drive and Hayes Town Centre will provide a total of 740 new homes, consisting of mixed tenure homes including those for council rent, returning leaseholders, shared ownership and private sale, along with high quality public realm.
Declan Higgins, Chief Executive Officer at Higgins said: “The ‘spade in the ground’ ceremony marks a significant milestone in the start of work to deliver much needed new sustainable homes for the local community.
“In addition to the new homes and public realm we will also continue to work closely with the local community through our Community Charters and social value commitments, which already includes working with Austin Road Sewing Club, who provide support for women in the local community and Minet Nursery and Primary School, where we have already hosted a number of engagement events with the children, including a cycle safety day.”
The first phase will create 110 new homes, 30 at Avondale and 80 at Hayes Town Centre with residents expected to move in around Summer 2025.
The affordable housing will be delivered earlier in the overall programme. Both developments will feature new high quality public open spaces, improved pedestrian and cycle routes, secure car parking, landscaping and children’s play areas. At Hayes Town Centre Estate a new community centre will replace the existing one.
Higgins is also creating apprenticeship and employment opportunities for local residents throughout the development’s construction, with local estate resident, Gemma already appointed as Resident Liaison Officer for both developments.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, said: “We're committed to building safe and strong communities and ensuring residents have access to good quality affordable housing.
“I’m delighted to see these work begin. Once complete, they will deliver fantastic new homes for our residents alongside significant neighbourhood improvements which will help transform the area for generations to come.”
Hillingdon Council's planning committee approved the masterplans for both estates in March 2022 following extensive consultation with residents on the designs. Residents on the estates backed the redevelopment in a ballot held in May 2021, when 94 per cent of eligible voters came out in favour at Avondale Drive, with 85 per cent turnout, and 79 per cent in favour on Hayes Town Centre Estate, with a 90 per cent turnout.
The redevelopment of the two Estates is estimated to run for a period of approximately seven to nine years to reflect the decant and phased construction strategy, allowing as many residents as possible to stay on site during construction with a single decant.
