5:04pm Wednesday 4th August 2004
By Charlie Harris
HARROW Council has unveiled its "vision" for the redevelopment of a major part of the town centre.
And it is asking residents across the borough what they want to see happen to a six hectare site centred on Harrow-on-the-Hill station.
The council's "draft supplementary planning guidance" covers an area from the bus station to Harrow Baptist Church in College Road, including the derelict Royal Mail sorting office, and from the multi-storey car park by the south entrance to the station to Harrow College's Lowlands road campus, taking in the open space between.
The council said it was seeking an "iconic development" that would put the town centre on the map".
The aim is to create a transport hub and connect the green areas south of the railway to the shops to the north, with a combined bus and Tube station surrounded by homes, shops, and leisure facilities.
There would be a pedestrian link over the railway, but this would not be a mere bridge.
The large green shape on the picture above illustrates a building stretching across the lines, but in no way indicates what the building is expected to look like, the council stressed.
The scheme could also include a major redevelopment of the college campus and the creation of a series of "exciting and inviting" open spaces.
The picture above is one of a number of "illustrative concepts" drawn up by architectural practice Alsops to start a public debate and provide guidance for developers.
Councillor Keith Burchell, chairman of the council's cross-party town centre project panel, said development could have tremendous social and economic benefits.
"We want Harrow to have one of the best town centres in London, and this is a major opportunity to create something really exciting and special," he said.
"There are, potentially, a host of lasting benefits that could be achieved.
"We want to start a debate about what people want and how bold we are prepared to be in terms of architecture and design."
The timescale for the re-development is "within ten years".
Details of the draft guidance can be seen, and comments made, at www.harrow.gov.uk and through the September issue of Harrow People.
Copies can be inspected at the Civic Centre and libraries, where leaflets are also available. There will be displays in the town centre and the Civic Centre, and the council is writing to interested groups.
The deadline for comments is October 22.
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