More plans for flats on Uxbridge Road site

BUSINESSES could be forced to close if proposed plans to build flats on a main road are given the go-ahead.

Notting Hill Home Ownership have submitted a second application to build 47 flats on 505-509 Uxbridge Road and 89-91 Grange Road, Hayes.

Their first application, submitted last year, was for 70 flats and this got refused by Hillingdon Council. An appeal was lodged, but this is still pending.

In the past there have also been applications to build a care home and a supermarket on this site, which is in the Hayes Village Conservation Area.

Townfield councillor, Lynne Allen, has been at the forefront of the campaign against the developments of flats on this site.

She said: "Although I recognise the need for homes, I have to balance that with the need for people to have employment.

"I will be objecting to this application because there are four to six small businesses on that site and they're earning a living. The last thing I want to see is the unemployment list get higher.

"My argument has always been that land is for business and if you start taking away that land you are stripping away employment.

"If no one wanted to run businesses on the site then I could understand it, but it has been proven that there is a need for them there."

One of the reasons it was also refused by the planning committee last time is because it would have been detrimental to the character and appearance of the conservation area.

Residents of Grange Road and the surrounding roads also petitioned against the last application.
Ms Allen added: "At the top of Grange Road we have got bottleneck traffic and that's why the residents are opposed to it.

"I can imagine they will be opposed to this one because they have been opposed the whole way through because of the traffic problems in that area."

To comment on the plans go to www.hillingdon.gov.uk by September 30.