A SCHEME that could create 650 jobs has narrowly avoided being derailed by HS2.
The redevelopment of the former Express Dairies site, in Victoria Road, South Ruislip, has been in the pipeline for two years.
Arla Foods, which owns the site, and developer Citygrove insist they still intend to submit a planning application by the end of the year for the site, which has been derelict since 2006.
But last week, Ruislip Against HS2 campaigner Lottie Jones alerted the Gazette to news that HS2 Ltd had safeguarded a larger area of the site than originally expected.
At that time, Sid Jackson, the vice-chairman of South Ruislip Residents’ Association, said: “I have been living here for 35 years and we have never had anything built that is for the community.”
Andrew Rennie, from Citygrove, insists the HS2 safeguard area only takes in a small patch of the land, but said the plans are being amended.
“Some changes will take place to accommodate HS2 but we have been taking on board comments from the local community as well as from the council, Transport for London and other bodies, and we will still bring forward the latest plans at the end of the year,” he said.
Early plans for the Arla Foods site suggest the build will include a supermarket, a 10-screen cinema, four restaurants, homes, a hotel and pub, and a central piazza with seating.
It is not the only planned redevelopment in South Ruislip.
Sainsbury’s hopes to rebuild its supermarket in Long Drive, for which it intends to submit an application to Hillingdon Council by the end of the year. It is thought this site would be within the HS2 safeguard zone, but the current plans would not be affected.
Safeguarding boundaries protect land eventually needed for the building and running of HS2 from any new construction projects.
