Hounslow Council approves £1 million investment for the Golden Mile

Aerial photograph of the Great West Road; photograph Jason Hawkes

Great West Road set to receive a spending boost to support projects that unlock ‘significant economic growth and skills, improve transport and public spaces, strengthen cultural and community facilities and enable mixed-use regeneration’

The transformation of the Great West Road has made a step forward with the allocation of £1 million in investment from Hounslow Council.

The four-kilometre stretch of the Great West Road that runs from Chiswick Business Park through Brentford to Syon Lane, with connections to Boston Manor and Kew Bridge and close links to Heathrow Airport is known as ‘The Golden Mile’.

Long known for its industrial heritage, the area is home to major employers such as JCDecaux and Sky and sits at the heart of a rapidly evolving west London economy.

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A spokesperson for Hounslow Council said it was taking “the next major step in transforming one of London’s most important opportunities for growth and regeneration in west London” by approving the Golden Mile Investment Framework at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 20 January.

The Framework sets out a long-term vision to deliver:

• Up to 14,000 new homes over the lifetime of the programme.
• 14,000 to 25,000 new jobs across key growth sectors.
• Around £5 billion of public and private sector investment.
• New and improved green and blue spaces, including the River Brent corridor.
• Investment in modern leisure, cultural and community facilities.

(L) Gillette Tower; photograph Jigsaw Aerial Imagery; (R) JCDecaux former factory, Grade II Listed Art Deco building, now offices for JCDecaux. 991 Great West Rd, Brentford

The framework sets out how the Council and partners will guide investment over the next fifteen years to build on the Golden Mile’s industrial heritage and support its development as a Creative Tech Innovation District – ‘a place that brings together creative industries, digital and advanced technologies and established sectors such as TV and media production to drive innovation, skills and employment’.

There are five key ambitions for the Golden Mile:

1. A thriving innovation and skills hub
   Supporting growth in the creative tech, digital media, advanced technologies and life sciences while connecting local people to jobs, training and future ready skills.
2. Better transport and connectivity
   Improving public transport, walking and cycling and progressing plans for the West London Orbital rail line to better connect communities to jobs and opportunities.
3. Greener streets and neighbourhoods
   Transforming the A4 corridor into greener, healthier streets and creating green and blue corridors – networks of parks, trees, waterways and open spaces that support wildlife, improve air quality and give residents places to walk, cycle and spend time outdoors – which includes enhancing the River Brent as a key natural asset.
4. Culture, leisure and community life
   Strengthening the Golden Mile as a destination for culture, leisure, sport and immersive experiences with new and improved community facilities.
5. Homes to support inclusive growth
   Delivering new homes alongside employment growth, helping to meet housing need while supporting vibrant mixed-use neighbourhoods.

Cabinet also approved £1 million of funding to support the first phase of projects, helping to develop the priority schemes, attract further investment and move key proposals forward.

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Councillor Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council and Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development, said:

“The Golden Mile is one of Hounslow’s most important assets with huge potential for jobs, much-needed homes and innovation. Our plans show how regeneration can be ambitious, inclusive and built around local people and places.

“By approving this investment framework, we are turning vision into action. Creating a clear plan to unlock growth and improve the lives of our residents”.

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