Communities secretary Eric Pickles has told of his admiration for Hounslow after taking a tour of regeneration projects across the borough.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government was taken by Brentford and Isleworth MP, Mary Macleod yesterday (April 4) to visit six regeneration sites across the borough, including new canal-side development, Brentford Lock West where he met volunteers from Cultivate London.

He told the Chronicle in an exclusive interview how impressed he was with the charity and urban farm which now grows vegetables and plants on top of the new low-rise apartment blocks.

“Cultivate London was great, they’re involving people from all kinds of backgrounds and it will mean that will be more communal space in Brentford which brings people together. They gave me a lettuce to take away with me which I thought was great, I’ve never been given a lettuce before.”

After a tour of Ms Macleod’s consituency Mr Pickles attended a Hounslow Chamber of Commerce regeneration lunch at Sam’s Brasserie in Chiswick where he spoke about the importance of bringing people back to town centres and how encouraged he was by Hounslow Council and the private sector’s passion for regeneration projects in the borough.

He said: “I’ve seen examples of regeneration today that I’m going to brag about to other communities. To build a successful community you want something that people are truly going to call their own and from what I can see this is exactly what’s happening in Hounslow.

“I used to have a friend who I visited in Hounslow years ago and coming back was a pleasant surprise, there’s a real feeling of commitment to regenerating the area in a unique way - there’s a sense of making it a little bit special. The Labour council and all parties are working very well together. I think the idea of opening up the river from the Golden Mile is a great one, it could really bring a lot to Brentford and Chiswick. ”

Just three weeks ago, Mr Pickles gave the third and final thumbs up for a new Brentford FC stadium to be built in Lionel Road South. He could not go into details about his decision but did tell the Chronicle he admired the work of the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust. “I’ve seen very good examples of stadiums using their facilities for community groups and I was impressed with the Sports Trust and their work in Brentford. There are definitely many worse stadiums.”

He went on to say how he thought regeneration in the borough was offering something entirely different from other notable projects across the capital.

Talking about what Hounslow’s regeneration means for the rest of London, the Secretary of State said it offers a much-needed balance to the feverish work going on in east London. “After World World Two, west London was the focal point and now east London is going through a transformation so the balance shifted but what I’ve seen here today means there’s much change in the west again. The relationship between businesses here is very productive and relaxed which is great.”

Invited to talk at the Chamber lunch by Ms Macleod, he added that he was impressed with her knowledge of the area as she talked him through issues and projects at every point of their journey around the borough. “People say you can’t be personal as a politician but it’s being personal which makes you a great politician, Mary obviously really cares about her constituency.”