Help shape the future of Hanworth Air Park

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Thank you to those who took part in the drop-in sessions or completed the online residents survey.

Land Use Consultants (LUC) are now developing draft designs for the masterplan, incorporating the results and findings from the consultation.

Further consultation on the draft designs is planned for spring / early summer 2025.

Consultation Feedback

Between October and December 2024, we consulted with residents, users and stakeholders that use or are involved with Hanworth Air Park. Through the consultation, we wanted to better understand how the Park is currently used, what prevents people from using the park more often and what future improvements people would like to see developed through the masterplan.

Our public consultation included an online residents survey which received a total of 306 responses and drop-in sessions which were attended by local residents and parents, staff and students from St Michael Steiner School. Those who attended had an opportunity to see and feedback on some of the early design proposals.

Our findings from the consultation and engagement highlighted that:

  • There is a need to balance between recreational / community spaces and natural areas within the masterplan, as nature in Hanworth Air Park is highly valued and people do not want to lose the ‘semi-wild’ feel to the site.
  • People want to see nature and habitats flourish, but it is important that it is properly managed to maximise benefits for people and wildlife.
  • People would like to see Hanworth Air Park become a destination space through the offer of a café, toilets, seating provision and community space / activities.
  • People feel a strong connection to the heritage of the park and wider area which they would like to see celebrated through the masterplan.
  • People told us that they supported changes that increased activity in the park, attracted more people and improved perceptions of safety.

Overview

Hanworth Air Park is located to the western side of Hounslow. It lies to the west of the Uxbridge Road (A312) and forms a large urban country park, with an approximate area of 60.7 hectares. Historically known as London Air Park due to being an operational airfield in the early 1900s, it was also known as a private flying centre in the 1930s, which is used today by the Hanworth AP Model Flying Club.

The Longford River,owned by the Royal Parks runs through Hanworth Air Park providing a significant habitat within the park as well as a valuable landscape feature. While most of the river is visible there is a 400m section that was culverted during the first world war.

The park consists of a large expanse of grassland to the heart of the site with broad leafed scrub and woodland to the periphery. A self-bound gravel footpath borders the edge of the park and provides connection to the numerous park entrances located around the site. Further informal desire line paths haphazardly cross the park and provide access through the natural habitats.

A large proportion of the grassland is classified as acid grassland and offers nesting opportunities for Skylarks with ancient ant hills forming a distinctive landscape feature. The acid grassland is under Countryside Stewardship with the remainder of the site being managed by Lampton Services GreenSpace, the Council’s parks, and open space maintenance service provider.

The park offers the following recreational facilities:

  • Playground, a formal equipped play area for children under the age of 11 years.
  • Feltham Rugby Club
  • Hanworth Sport’s Football Club
  • Hanworth Air Park Model Flying Club
  • Hanworth Parkrun
  • Bridleway
  • Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre and Library
  • Hanworth Park Cycling Hub

Masterplan:

London Borough of Hounslow has appointed a multi disciplinary team of Landscape Architects and landscape consultants to form a masterplan for Hanworth Air Park.

The process will be collaborative with the appointed team, the Council, stakeholders, and community working together to develop the vision.

The Council’s six priority ambitions for the borough will shape the Hanworth Air Park Masterplan, with specific focus given to ‘creating a greener Hounslow’ and increasing the physical and mental well-being of residents. Areas of focus will be:

  • Access to and around the site
  • Signage and street furniture
  • Play provision
  • Sports provision
  • Existing buildings
  • Parking provision
  • Visitor facilities and information
  • Diversifying and enhancing the range of habitats to increase biodiversity
  • Links to other initiatives including the Hanworth Air Park Community Woodland and Hanworth Park House.

The appointed team with oversee the delivery of the agreed masterplan design in 2025-2026.


Thank you to those who took part in the drop-in sessions or completed the online residents survey.

Land Use Consultants (LUC) are now developing draft designs for the masterplan, incorporating the results and findings from the consultation.

Further consultation on the draft designs is planned for spring / early summer 2025.

Consultation Feedback

Between October and December 2024, we consulted with residents, users and stakeholders that use or are involved with Hanworth Air Park. Through the consultation, we wanted to better understand how the Park is currently used, what prevents people from using the park more often and what future improvements people would like to see developed through the masterplan.

Our public consultation included an online residents survey which received a total of 306 responses and drop-in sessions which were attended by local residents and parents, staff and students from St Michael Steiner School. Those who attended had an opportunity to see and feedback on some of the early design proposals.

Our findings from the consultation and engagement highlighted that:

  • There is a need to balance between recreational / community spaces and natural areas within the masterplan, as nature in Hanworth Air Park is highly valued and people do not want to lose the ‘semi-wild’ feel to the site.
  • People want to see nature and habitats flourish, but it is important that it is properly managed to maximise benefits for people and wildlife.
  • People would like to see Hanworth Air Park become a destination space through the offer of a café, toilets, seating provision and community space / activities.
  • People feel a strong connection to the heritage of the park and wider area which they would like to see celebrated through the masterplan.
  • People told us that they supported changes that increased activity in the park, attracted more people and improved perceptions of safety.

Overview

Hanworth Air Park is located to the western side of Hounslow. It lies to the west of the Uxbridge Road (A312) and forms a large urban country park, with an approximate area of 60.7 hectares. Historically known as London Air Park due to being an operational airfield in the early 1900s, it was also known as a private flying centre in the 1930s, which is used today by the Hanworth AP Model Flying Club.

The Longford River,owned by the Royal Parks runs through Hanworth Air Park providing a significant habitat within the park as well as a valuable landscape feature. While most of the river is visible there is a 400m section that was culverted during the first world war.

The park consists of a large expanse of grassland to the heart of the site with broad leafed scrub and woodland to the periphery. A self-bound gravel footpath borders the edge of the park and provides connection to the numerous park entrances located around the site. Further informal desire line paths haphazardly cross the park and provide access through the natural habitats.

A large proportion of the grassland is classified as acid grassland and offers nesting opportunities for Skylarks with ancient ant hills forming a distinctive landscape feature. The acid grassland is under Countryside Stewardship with the remainder of the site being managed by Lampton Services GreenSpace, the Council’s parks, and open space maintenance service provider.

The park offers the following recreational facilities:

  • Playground, a formal equipped play area for children under the age of 11 years.
  • Feltham Rugby Club
  • Hanworth Sport’s Football Club
  • Hanworth Air Park Model Flying Club
  • Hanworth Parkrun
  • Bridleway
  • Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre and Library
  • Hanworth Park Cycling Hub

Masterplan:

London Borough of Hounslow has appointed a multi disciplinary team of Landscape Architects and landscape consultants to form a masterplan for Hanworth Air Park.

The process will be collaborative with the appointed team, the Council, stakeholders, and community working together to develop the vision.

The Council’s six priority ambitions for the borough will shape the Hanworth Air Park Masterplan, with specific focus given to ‘creating a greener Hounslow’ and increasing the physical and mental well-being of residents. Areas of focus will be:

  • Access to and around the site
  • Signage and street furniture
  • Play provision
  • Sports provision
  • Existing buildings
  • Parking provision
  • Visitor facilities and information
  • Diversifying and enhancing the range of habitats to increase biodiversity
  • Links to other initiatives including the Hanworth Air Park Community Woodland and Hanworth Park House.

The appointed team with oversee the delivery of the agreed masterplan design in 2025-2026.


Page last updated: 03 Feb 2025, 03:58 PM