Regeneration project: Northwood Hills

With £1.3m of investment from the Mayor, boosted by £450,000 match funding from Hillingdon Council, Northwood Hills is being restored as a gateway to north-west London’s unique green spaces and heritage. This funding will also be used to encourage locals to make better use of their town centre. Shop fronts and public spaces are being rejuvenated to make the centre more attractive for local residents who currently use their cars to visit other high streets nearby. The local history of Metroland is being celebrated through an impressive mural. By becoming more pedestrian and cyclist friendly, Northwood Hills will provide a template for the rest of London.

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Animating places

Local business representatives have set up an events team in Northwood Hills. The team is coordinating events to increase footfall and improve long term prospects for local traders. Together they’ve developed a brand for Northwood Hills which launched at their first Independent’s Day event in June 2013. Bunting, balloons, banners and free hemp bags printed with an iconic Metroland poster helped to give the day visual appeal. Participating shops offered discounts and free gifts, helping takings increase by an average 52%. The campaign was commended by the Federation of Small Businesses and London Council’s Small Business Friendly Borough awards.

Public spaces

A comprehensive public space scheme by East Architecture Landscape Urban Design is rejuvenating the town centre. New trees are making a stronger connection to the surrounding countryside, while special lighting is offering a unique visual identity. These improvements are making it easier and safer for pedestrians to get around. New materials such as granite, terrazzo and resin-bonded gravel are also adding interest as well as functionality. The scheme includes traffic and road improvements, better parking layouts and more benches. Legible London signage is being introduced, while graffiti and mural artists Cosmo Sarson and Gordon Collett will decorate the sides of the road bridge over the railway near the station.

Building frontages

Mayoral funding is being used to improve the appearance of 24 shops in Northwood Hills with a significant funding contribution of 20% of the costs from local businesses. Shops are being given a make-over including new windows, signage and fascias from Designed by Good People, in keeping with the character of the business and the building. Alongside these renovations, retail specialists International Visual are offering advice and support to traders, covering visual merchandising and customer service.

Supporting business

Businesses in Northwood Hills are being supported by the events team who are not only running events to attract visitors, but are also providing visual merchandising and promotions advice to shops taking part. Additional support is also being given to shop front grant recipients to make the most of their new frontages. These have included helping to organise special opening events. The Mayor of Hillingdon has presided over particularly successful opening events at musical shop Stomp Box and fashion store S7INS, attracting big crowds.

Stewardship

Match funding from the London Borough of Hillingdon has been used to set up a business network with representatives from across the town centre. The team is responsible for planning events and promotions that foster trade in Northwood Hills. A successful Independent’s Day in June 2013 attracted lots of new visitors to the high street, giving the group the confidence to continue holding similar events and promotions.

Transport

Investment in Northwood Hills’ public spaces also includes a series of improvements to roads and transportation arrangements. The entire length of Joel Street will be resurfaced and the parking bays redesigned to allow safer entry and exit onto the high street. In addition, an important bus stop will be moved closer to the station to improve public transport connections.

Borough: Hillingdon

Partners/client: LB Hillingdon

Consultants: East Architecture Landscape Urban Design, Steer Davies Gleave, Designed by Good People, International Visual, Gordon Collett, Cosmo Sarson

Funding: Mayor of London £1.3m, LB Hillingdon £450,000, TfL Local Improvement Plan £430,000