http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -plan.html



More sprawling housing estates... just what's needed!!

Our Colonial cousins need somewhere to live, without to many of the natives encroaching onto their space.

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Its not always the biggest and the bestest, its them that make the least mistakes.

I was reading this story in The Telegraph this morning. As much as I would like to think it will not happen I fear the £££££ signs will sway a few heads. That is one large piece of real estate on the fringes of the Capital.

Can you just imagine the effect on the surrounding infrastructure ? The roads in the area cannot cope now, and with Long Lane about to be further swamped with the development of the old USAF base it will get much worse. Lets not forget the ogre that is Tesco still hankers after the old Master Brewer site as well. The east-west routes across the borough are bad enough, but the north-south routes are a complete farce.

Secret talks about this sale plan were made with interested parties during 2011. It seems that those details have now made their way to the media.

As a local resident, (and if Northolt does go, as it's not a done deal yet) I would prefer housing over aviation any day.

My fear is that Boris Island will stay live until after the mayoral election, at which time the Tories will produce some environmental assessment that says Boris Island is bad news, and the Govt will produce Northolt out of the hat. A high speed link to LHR will, in effect, make Northolt runway three. For those who say the runway isn't long enough, they could reinstate the old disused runway and extend it over ickenham marshes adjacent to Austin Lane, which could add 50%+ onto the length of the runway

The Govt will say (spin):
>Northolt is not a new LHR 3rd runway, is the upgrading of an exisiting runway.
>They will spin the recent negative environmental assessment against re runway three doesn't apply here, arguing again that Northolt can take take the additional pollution that extra planes will create
>They will ague that HS2 (running adjacent to Notholt) will provide rail links with the UK (This may be why the HS2 route is underground between Northolt & West Ruislip, and this will allow a diversion to the north side of Northolt airport) Also, the LU central line could be easily extended into the base
> The CBI (who still have huge influence of Cameron & Co) will be 100% supportive and push for Northolt over Boris Island
> Lastly, the fickle UK public will sleep easier in their beds (even if locals won't) knowing that various seagulls & ducks can still use the Thames estuary undisturbed,especially as those near Northolt chose to live there and will be used to aircraft noise

I have been sitting on this post for months as I didn't want to break the silence insisted during the talks. But the threat of a Northolt/Heathrow merger is very real and very worrying

dont think it will be sold
Anyway , we dont need more housing in Hillingdon , eg hayes
its overcrowded as it is , the A40 cant take any more traffic , and the roads around Northolt
if anything the population needs thinning out , not increased

There was an article in Modern Railways last month about the Central Line being extended to Uxbridge and a cabinet minister stated that that could be an option in ten years or so.

The rail atlas map there didn't show the contours, multi level road junctions, golf course (UXbridge for those who are better healed) or office blocks and housing on old railway lines near the level of running streams (though that has beeen dealt with in construction of lines such as the Victoria Line or Docklands Light Railway) with foundations that could get in the way depending on the route.

My guess:
If anything the airbase is likely to be housing for Mod personnel and ex personnell to enable them to work in the capital.

However this is a matter for the Department of Transport and the Greater London Authority

Wouldn't this be an ideal opportunity for a couple of improvements:

1) Build a new larger modern hospital to replace the ageing decrepit Hillingdon Hospital

2) Provide a massive guarded car park for commuters from the west coupled to a frequent rail line into central London (or even a park and ride). That would relieve the A40 and reduce any future widening projects

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Lets be careful out there !

There is a small hitch to any plan. The army post office is operated at Northolt (BFPO HQ), any sale would have to involve moving this or incorporating it into the housing estate.

Geezer: there are lots of military support services at Northolt, the vast majority of which will be moved if the sale goes ahead. This will all be considered before a 'for sale' sign is hung on the main gate and talks have been ongoing with stakeholders for months on this issue.

It is fair to say that the post office depot is a new addition on the site, however the entire camp has had a massive refurb in recent years and much work continues now, so one building - however new- will not stop the sale

Given the far flung wars our governments have involved us in this last 10 years the BFPO is very probably the only part of the services which is expanding.....