Hillingdon Water Sports & Activity Centre
Harefield, London Borough of Hillingdon
As masterplanners of this 78.4 hectares site, Colour mediated highly complex ecological and greenbelt issues so as to seek planning approval for the replacement of the Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre and provision on new facilities for the Broadwater Sailing Club in Harefield, west of London
Replacement of the former HOAC facility was required as a result of an Agreement between London Borough of Hillingdon, HS2 Ltd and the Department of Transport as the Colne Valley Viaduct was to be constructed through the existing site making it unsuitable for future use.
After all other alternative sites were found to be inappropriate and through demonstrating the low levels of activity proposed both on land and water, an highly sensitive data driven ecologically led masterplan was collaboratively developed with design and construction methodology that satisfied the complex and often conflicting requirements of all stakeholders and design disciplines within this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Set within the Colne Valley, the waterbodies and landform were created by its former use for gravel extraction and sorting – largely for construction of the London’s orbital M25 motorway. The ecological condition of the SSSI had however been deteriorating since its designation in the 1970s – the current scheme offers the opportunity to enhance these in perpetuity.
The key design drivers for this community related process were ecological sensitivity, arboricultural sensitivity, minimal visual impact, repurposing of existing hard surfaces and maximising undisturbed water. Historic industrial features have been sensitively.
The young users of this highly inclusive facility will enjoy dinghy sailing, kayaking and raft building on the water, camping and environmentally sensitive outdoor activities including caving amongst the trees on land.
Key aspects :
Relocation of a popular outdoor activity centre providing access to nature and water for inner city children
Ecological enhancement of a SSSI through in depth liaison with Natural England
Iterative visual analysis – masterplan testing eliminated visual impact as an issue on a greenbelt site
London’s Urban Greening Factor score of 0.98 where 1 = 100% natural and 0 = all hard
Highly collaborative process with authorities and stakeholder
CLIENT London Borough of Hillingdon
TEAM Quod Harper Ecology, Greengage, RPS / Tetra Tech, Haverstock Architects, Space & Place Architects Robert West Peter Bentley Sailing
STATUS Planning committee April 2026
CLIENT London Borough of Hillingdon TEAM Quod Harper Ecology, Greengage, RPS / Tetra Tech, Haverstock Architects, Space & Place Architects Robert West Peter Bentley Sailing STATUS Planning committee April 2026
