AN ARCHITECT has been employed to draw up a new 'master plan' for the regeneration of Hounslow town centre.


BDP, the firm behind the Liverpool ONE shopping centre and a number of regeneration projects in the south east, will begin work immediately on the project.


The company, working with CB Richard Ellis, MVA Consultancy and Regeneris, has promised to create a 'visionary yet realistic framework' to turn Hounslow into a 'vibrant destination'.


Public consultation on the initial options is set to take place in June before a detailed document outlining the town centre's potential transformation is produced in November.


It is just two years since another 'master plan' was produced by consultants EDAW. It suggested a public square, a local shopping centre around Kingsley Road and better transport links were key to regenerating the town centre.

Hounslow Council claims the new document will build on this work to create a more detailed set out of outlines for Hounslow's regeneration.

Deputy council leader Ruth Cadbury said: "We are extremely excited about this opportunity to explore and maximise the significant potential of Hounslow town centre.

The master plan demonstrates our commitment to working with local businesses and communities to jointly realise development opportunities in the town centre.

"Now more than ever is the time to adopt a flexible, innovative, community-based master plan that will drive forward development and set the framework for a Hounslow to become a vibrant and thriving metropolitan centre."

It is already more than five years since the Blenheim Centre, including hundreds of flats and a 24-hour ASDA, opened. That was meant to be the first part of a two-stage project but the second half, linking the centre to the High Street was never completed after council leaders lost faith in the developers.

The council-owned land has since been used as a temporary car park, while many of the houses alongside are now boarded up.

Although times remain tough in the retail and housing sectors, Tesco recently submitted plans for a huge new supermarket by Hounslow bus garage.