Plans for a Lidl on a historic World War Two site have been refused by Hillingdon Council’s Planning Committee following public backlash, in what was “one of the largest planning related petitions in decades”.
The supermarket chain sought planning permission to demolish The Orchard, a listed Ruislip pub. However, The Orchard was a public house frequented by members of the 303 Squadron during World War Two – something which resonates with residents.
Committee Chair, Councillor Henry Higgins, announced the unanimous decision to a round of applause in the room. He reminded developers that “residents in Hillingdon love their heritage”, something he urges developers to keep in mind.
Over 1,750 people sent objections to the committee, with all three ward councillors attending to oppose the application Philip Corthorne, John Riley, and Peter Smallwood. Cllr Riley told the committee that in his 18 years as councillor, he had never interacted with residents as much on a single issue before.
Following a six-week public consultation earlier this year, in which 97 per cent of residents supported the idea, the council’s cabinet decided to add The Orchard to the local list. Inclusion ensures these factors are considered when the council assesses any planning application.
One issue of significant concern was the memorial Spitfire, which members of the Ruislip Residents Association said would be diminished if the building is demolished. Rendering plans from March 2025 did not show the original stone or Spitfire memorial.
In an attempt to win over residents and councillors, Lidl altered the design of the store to better reflect local character, and proposed a WW2 memorial garden. However, concerns around traffic safety continued to persist.
The site is not near to Ruislip’s main transport hub, meaning much of the town would not have been on a direct bus route to the supermarket.
There were proposals to reopen a pedestrian entrance at the corner of the site at the junction of Sharps Lane and Ickenham Road, however this is now unlikely.
The Orchard was originally constructed in 1905 as a bungalow and provided refreshments to visitors from Central London who had travelled to the countryside via the Metropolitan Line. Its popularity saw a second storey added and a pavilion which could accommodate up to 500 guests.
The entire discussion was short, around 25 minutes maximum – it was one that did not require much consideration from councillors. As a result, The Orchard is safe from demolition at this point and no new Lidl will be built.
Philip is a Local Democracy Reporter covering Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow, with a focus on council decisions, housing, planning, licensing and community stories across west London.
