The Hillingdon Planning Committee convened to discuss several planning applications, including a proposal to construct a discount food store at the site of The Orchard Inn in Ruislip, which was ultimately refused. Additionally, the committee approved an application for a double-storey side extension at 42 The Larches and another for the erection of a part two-storey, part three-storey care home at 12-18 Pield Heath Road & 2 Pield Heath Avenue, subject to a section 106 legal agreement.

The Orchard Inn Development

The committee voted to refuse planning permission for the construction of a discount food store on the site of The Orchard Inn, Ickenham Road, Ruislip.

The reasons for refusal included:

• Design and Heritage: The proposed development would harm the character of the Ruislip Village Conservation Area[^1] and designated heritage assets, including the locally listed Old Orchard and the Grade II Listed White Bear Public House. [^1]: Conservation areas are designated to protect places of special architectural or historic interest.
• Retail Impact: Insufficient evidence was submitted to justify the out-of-town centre location of the retail floor space.
• Loss of Public House: The application failed to demonstrate that there was no realistic prospect of the locally listed Old Orchard Public House being brought back into use as a public house in the foreseeable future.
• Highways: The proposed development would not adequately facilitate walking, cycling, or public transport and would include an oversupply of car parking.
• Biodiversity: The proposed development would result in an inappropriate net loss of biodiversity and an unacceptable loss of trees.
• Air Quality: The proposed development would contribute to unacceptable pollutant emissions in the Ruislip Town Centre Focus Area.
• Flood Risk/Drainage: The applicant submitted insufficient flood risk and drainage details.
• Planning Obligations: The applicant failed to mitigate the impacts posed by the proposed development in respect of air quality, employment, energy monitoring and carbon offsetting.

The application received a significant number of objections, including from the Ruislip Residents' Association, Ickenham Residents' Association, Eastcote Residents' Association, Eastcote Conservation Panel, Councillor Philip Corthorne, Mayor of Hillingdon and Ruislip ward councillor, and Councillor Peter Smallwood OBE, Ruislip ward councillor.

42 The Larches

The committee approved the application for the demolition of a rear outbuilding and erection of a double-storey side extension to form a new house with associated bin and cycle stores and separation of rear garden for private amenity space at 42 The Larches, Hillingdon East.

12-18 Pield Heath Road & 2 Pield Heath Avenue

The committee approved the application for the partially retrospective demolition of four dwellings (Nos. 12, 14, and 16 Pield Heath Road and 2 Pield Heath Avenue) and one Bed and Breakfast (No. 18 Pield Heath Road), and the subsequent erection of a part two-storey, part three-storey (plus basement) care home (Class C2), with car parking, landscaping, and associated works, subject to a section 106 legal agreement.

The section 106 agreement includes the following:

• Securing the use of the building as a care home.
• Air Quality Mitigation contribution of £52,754.
• A Carbon Offset contribution of £204,970, or a reduced figure if greater on-site carbon savings are shown to be implementable through an updated Energy Strategy.
• London Healthy Urban Development Unit (HUDU) financial contribution of £215,217 to fund enhanced or new health facilities within the London Borough of Hillingdon.
• A full Travel Plan to be approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
• An Employment/ Construction Training Scheme secured in accordance with the Council's Planning Obligations SPD.
• A Section 278 agreement to implement the proposed off-site Highways Works.
• A Project Management and Monitoring Fee, equalling 5% of the total financial contributions to be paid under this agreement.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

According to the minutes from the meeting on 8 May 2025, Councillor Henry Higgins was elected as Chair of the Hillingdon Planning Committee for the 2025/26 municipal year, and Councillor Adam Bennett was elected as Vice-Chair.