The Mayor of London has released a major new report that sets out several options for redevelopment of the Heathrow airport site if a new hub airport in the south east is eventually agreed by the Government and Heathrow airport relocates.

It concludes that redeveloping the site could potentially support 90,000 new jobs and provide homes for 190,000 people.

The Mayor wants his report to kickstart an open, honest and evidence based debate on the potential of the Heathrow site to provide homes and jobs, in the face of the immense challenge posed by an increase in population for the capital, which is forecast to be equivalent to adding the population of Glasgow and Birmingham combined by 2030.

In a sign of the seriousness with which the potential relocation of the airport is now being taken by the London Borough of Hillingdon, the home of Heathrow Airport, have also released a report examining how the site might be used in the future.

Global Real Estate Advisers, Jones Lang LaSalle with PBA were responsible for the Mayor's report. In it they tested three viable options for the Heathrow site. They worked to a theory that a new hub airport to the east of London had already been approved and that Heathrow airport would potentially relocate by 2030.

They projected that many of the jobs currently provided at Heathrow would move to the new airport and be easily accessible via the world class transport links proposed. Meanwhile three scenarios for the redevelopment of the Heathrow site would create thousands of new jobs.

-- Advertisement --

Those scenarios are:

• A new education and technology quarter – This would recognise the important role that the higher education sector and its research capabilities have in supporting the London economy. A new education quarter based around two new large campus universities could support 100,000 jobs.

It would deliver 30,000 homes and 10,000 student housing units. When fully developed the quarter would generate an extra £7.8bn a year for the London economy. Similar types of education quarters can be found at Paris Saclay and in Boston.

• A new town – This would take the form of an entirely new town that would look to provide over 48,000 homes for 112,000 people. The report anticipates that some commuting in and out of the town would occur but it should be possible to achieve a broad balance of jobs and workers living in the town with 76,000 jobs created in total. When fully developed this option would generate around £6bn every year.

• A new residential quarter – This would create a new London residential quarter on the scale of Hammersmith and Fulham or Kensington and Chelsea. Many of the population would commute for work to central London or out to the Thames Valley. Nearly 82,000 new homes would support a population of 200,000.

The report estimates 54,000 jobs would be created with 46,000 of those jobs in activities supporting the local population. When fully developed this option would generate around £3.9bn a year.

The report concludes that the most likely scenario for redeveloping the airport will likely be a combination of the three options considered, which would provide the opportunity for strong levels of job creation and housing growth. A further fourth "Heathrow City" scenario would be of such quality that its potential is unlikely to be matched by any other site in the foreseeable future.

Mr Johnson, said: "My job as Mayor is to consider how best to face the incredible challenges posed by the unparalleled increase in population taking place in our city over the first half of this century.

"I believe there is no question that the best option for increasing our aviation capacity is now to the east of London, just as there is no question that Heathrow would then present a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to create a new town within the capital that would supply thousands more homes and jobs.

"Relocating Heathrow would bring benefits to both east and west London and it is impossible to get one without the other. This report is about clearing away the smoke screen put up by people whose loyalty is to their shareholders, not to Londoners; and prompting a genuine, honest discussion about what London could achieve in a world post Heathrow airport."

(CD/JP)