Thinking Big


The BBC reports on a proposal I've always found very attractive - creating a major new hub airport, possibly in the Thames Estuary, and replacing Heathrow with a new mini city within London that would result in the building almost 200,000 new homes.

But the prospect of London increasing in size by a further 20% over the next 15 years is very worrying because the capital is clearly distorting the UK economy, sucking investment towards the south east of England and as far as house prices are concerned, making London an impossible place for many people to live.  

So the stakes are high and something needs to give although the UK has a poor track record of managing these big infrastructure projects, as the High Speed Rail plans show, and the years it took for the Government to build the Channel Tunnel in a joint project with France.  


'Heathrow City' designs unveiled by architects

A technology campus along with new homes isproposed by architects Maccreanor Lavington

About 190,000 new homes, parkland or even a factory could replace Heathrow Airport in west London if it closes, designs unveiled by architects show.

'Heathrow City' designs have been commissioned by Transport for London and backed by Mayor Boris Johnson who wants a Thames Estuary hub airport.

Mr Johnson said Heathrow redevelopment was needed given the demand for homes.

The government-appointed Airports Commission will decide in 2015 on whether an estuary airport is feasible.

The Heathrow City plan envisions the future if the commission rejects plans for a third runway and selects the Thames Estuary option.

Architects Hawkins Brown envisages a factory for self-build modular homes on the Heathrow site where people could order homes to their own specifications.

Rick Mather Architects' proposal would see the Heathrow site becoming a new hub city by using the existing runways and terminals to define the structure of the city and connect 10 local centres.

Maccreanor Lavington's vision for Heathrow City aims to "develop a fully functioning city within the capital" and large tracts of woodland would be planted.

Hawkins Brown envisages a factory for self-build modular homes where Londoners could order homes to their own specifications

Rick Mather Architects' proposal would see a research, technology and manufacturing hub

A technology campus would be built to the east of the current site along with new housing, and the Terminal 2 building would be renovated to become a civic centre and retail hub that would form the heart of the new community.

Mr Johnson said: "The demand for new homes and jobs in the capital is such that we must be ready to start redeveloping Heathrow the moment it moves to its new site. And the sooner we start planning the better.

"However the key point is that all these scenarios would potentially create some of the many thousands of new jobs and homes this city will require given London is expected to increase in size by a fifth within the next 15 years."

The Airports Commission will decide next year whether the mayor's estuary plan will join plans to expand Heathrow and Gatwick runway schemes on the shortlist.

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