The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today announced his plans to invest more than £2.7 million to help rejuvenate two key town centres in Hillingdon and drive economic growth and jobs.
Hillingdon Council will use the Mayor's significant investment to deliver vital improvements in the Ruislip Manor and Northwood Hills areas, as part of his programme of improving town centres across the capital to ensure they remain viable, prosperous and competitive.
The funding will help to deliver vital public realm improvements to make the centres even more attractive to both visit and invest in. These include installing new signage, street furniture, better street lighting and the planting of new trees.
Careful thought has gone into making the centres easier to get around with enhanced provision for cyclists and redesigned road layouts to ensure better traffic flow and access for buses. Projects agreed between the Mayor and the Council will also deliver economic and social benefits to both areas, with provision for new markets, cultural and community events, retail and business support, and the promotion of apprenticeships within local firms.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Town centres are the lifeblood of our communities and we have to do all we can to ensure they can prosper and grow. By making some simple but vital improvements to how our town centres look and feel, we can help to kick-start growth and ensure they have the bright future they deserve. I look forward to seeing these planned improvements building a positive buzz and driving investment and job creation in the borough.”
Councillor Douglas Mills, Cabinet Member for Improvement, Partnerships and Community Safety at Hillingdon Council, said: "We are very keen to support local businesses and make our town centres a place where people want to come and shop. The additional funding from the Mayor of London will give traders a helping hand to maximise their potential and promote the borough as a great place to live in, work or visit.”
Notes to editors:
- All proposals listed will be subject to detailed development and business case evaluation in close collaboration between the borough and GLA regeneration officers.
- The proposals have been identified through ongoing discussions between the GLA and Borough officials. The investment will be funded from the Mayor's budget for regeneration.
- GLA officers are currently in ongoing discussion with Greenwich, Bexley, Barking and Dagenham, Harrow, Southwark, Wandsworth, Havering, Waltham Forest, Bromley and Enfield about schemes that don't meet the funding criteria for either the Outer London Fund or Mayor's Regeneration Fund.