First new homes completed as part of major estate redevelopment

Posted 03/10/2025

Hillingdon Council and Higgins are celebrating the completion of 30 much-needed affordable homes, as part of the first phase of its Hayes estates redevelopment project.

The new block, Cherwell Court, on Avondale Drive Estate was officially opened on Wednesday, 1 October by Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council’s Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth.

They were joined by long-term residents of the estate, who will soon be moving into their new properties, and Declan Higgins, Chief Executive Officer at Higgins Group, the council’s contractor for the project. 

Cherwell Court will provide a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom units, alongside three four-bedroom duplexes for larger families.

The building features a striking brickwork finish, large windows to maximise natural sunlight and large balconies. Each home is equipped with modern kitchens and bathrooms and powered by state-of-the-art air source heat pumps helping to reduce tenants' energy bills and the impact on the climate.

Phase one of the redevelopment project will create 110 homes for social rent, with 80 properties on the Hayes Town Centre estate set to complete next year. 

Cllr Tuckwell said: “With the demand for housing continuing to rise, it was vital that we prioritised the delivery of high quality affordable homes for established Hillingdon residents in the early phases of this redevelopment.

“Residents of the estates have played an integral role in shaping this project from the beginning, and I’m delighted that local families can now start moving into their new homes.

“This is a key milestone in the development which will see the neighbourhood transformed for the benefit of the wider community.”

Declan Higgins, Chief Executive Officer at Higgins Group, said: "We are delighted to have worked in partnership with Hillingdon Council to deliver this first phase of the redevelopment. From the beginning of our work at Avondale Drive and Hayes Town Centre Estates, we have engaged closely with the local community to create long-term social value benefits.

“It was a pleasure to meet the residents who will soon be moving into their new homes, and we look forward to welcoming more residents in the coming weeks."

The combined project across both estates will create 740 new homes (50 per cent affordable), a greener neighbourhood and public spaces for the community.