Heathrow Airport Expansion demanded a strategic approach to large-scale urban transformation, combining an understanding of:

• a unique 12,000 year archaeological record of habitation within the Thames valley

• the vulnerability of heritage assets and communities 

• Heathrow’s socio-economic influence, its historic mid-20th century aviation design and post-war reconstruction urban planning legacy 

• aviation's central role in a communication technology that continues to remake world cultures in the 21st century.

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This shaped an architectural, landscape and urban design response that:

• reconciled existing and future challenges facing the local historic environment

• re-invigorated greenbelt to reverse recent degradation of the historic environment

• addressed the unique setting challenge, including impact to the significance of heritage assets within a 3-dimensional airspace corridor defined by aircraft noise metric criteria

• celebrate global cultural connectivity

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Innovative assessment approaches drew on a wide range of quantitative and qualitative digital baseline data. Direct stakeholder participation in co-design and co-delivery was explored through a multi-disciplinary Historic Environment and Design Working Group. All commitments addressed delivery co-ordination and governance practices as set out in project-wide engagement processes.

 

The preferred masterplan embedded urban, landscape and green/blue infrastructure designs that incorporated major heritage conservation, historic landscape and community benefits. Specific design proposals resolved long-term heritage issues included enhanced visitor opportunities at the Grade I Harmondsworth Great Barn, accessible and engaging public realm, healthy streets, multi-functioning green spaces and improved connectivity through active travel networks that broadened people's ability to enjoy new heritage and cultural experiences.

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