A well-connected business and sporting hub
Uxbridge, located in the west of London, has a rich history as a commercial centre. Starting as a market town, it quickly became the centre for London's flour production, before transitioning into the modern market hub it is today.
Uxbridge has a strong local economy. It is home to the headquarters of several international companies such as General Mills, Manpower, Herbalife Europe, and many others. In June 2016, it was chosen as the headquarters for Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP), the world’s largest Coca Cola bottler.
It will be responsible for over 25,000 employees in across Europe, who help to make, distribute and sell products to 300 million people in a total of 13 international markets.
Heathrow Airport is a major employer in the area, supporting around 76,600 employees, who create gross value added (GVA) of almost £3.3 billion.
Brunel University produced £227.0 million GVA and 4,305 jobs in the Borough of Hillingdon in the academic year of 2014/15. On campus in Uxbridge, this totalled approximately 2,300 staff with around 13,700 students enrolled. The university estimated the spending by its staff in the local area was responsible for around 123 jobs in Hillingdon, and almost 1,500 in the UK for the same period.
The area is also seeing large-scale regeneration with an overwhelming focus on producing thousands of more home in the area.
Thanks to these elements, and its close proximity to central London, Uxbridge will make a great addition to any property investor's portfolio.
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Economy & Employment
Several major national and international employers have offices in Uxbridge.
In June 2016, the town became home to the world’s largest Coca Cola manufacturer headquarters. It will now be responsible for around 25,000 employees across Europe, who help to make, distribute and sell products to 300 million people in a total of 13 international markets.
Other companies with HQs and offices in Uxbridge include:
- Cadbury’s
- General Mills
- Canon EMEA
- Manpower
- PwC
- IBM
- Brunel University
Heathrow Airport is another major employer in the area, supporting over 76,600 employees, who create gross value added (GVA) of almost £3.3 billion.
The borough of Hillingdon is in the top 10 for job density of London boroughs.
In 2012/2013, the mean household incomes for Uxbridge South and Uxbridge North were £41,450 and £50,820 respectively, higher than the London average of £39,430.
Hillingdon is an attractive place to work for residents in nearby boroughs, and the population increases around 35,677 thanks to commuters.
Investment
Uxbridge town centre is due to be revamped thanks to a £2m investment contribution from the Mayor of London’s £20 million London Regeneration Fund. The regeneration is expected to bring in further private investment over the coming years.
The former RAF Uxbridge base is the final remaining UK bunker to have survived after World War II. The £6m investment will see the creation of a museum exhibition area, a gift shop, a lecture theatre and facilities for schools and corporate events. It’s expected that the new centre will be finished by February 2018.
St. Andrew’s Park is a development of 85 new homes, forming a part of a total of 1,300 new homes being created on the former RAF Uxbridge site. Its developer has applied for permission to create a 120,000 sq. ft. office development, which it says could sustain up to 1,000 jobs.
Other developments on the site include a 40-acre public park and a new primary school, John Locke Academy. The 720 pupil school opened in September 2014.
In early 2017, the go-ahead was given to transform the historic Randall's shop, into the shop and flat space.
In total the new development will consist of 58 residents units and 750 square metres of commercial floorspace.
Transport
Air: Heathrow Airport is the closest located to Uxbridge, and can be reached in around 15 minutes by car and 31 minutes by bus.
Rail: Uxbridge is serviced by two underground lines, the Metropolitan line and the Piccadilly line. Nearby West Drayton, around 14 minutes by car and 20 minutes by bus, offers national rail services to a number of locations, including Reading, Oxford and Banbury.
Road: Uxbridge is located close to the A40 (connecting to the M40), the M25 and the M4, leading to various destinations within Greater London, as well as nearby towns such as Maidenhead, Reading, High Wycombe and Basingstoke.
Bus: Uxbridge is serviced by a large number of buses, including night buses.
Education
Uxbridge is home to a range of five primary schools, one secondary school and one special school. Two of them, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Pield Heath House RC School, are considered ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Further education: Uxbridge College has two campuses in Uxbridge and Hayes. The college offers courses such as Games Development, Art & Design and Childcare to students aged 16 and up.
Higher education:
Brunel University, established in 1966, had around 13,700 students enrolled in 2015/16. The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in a range of diverse subjects, such as Law, Economics & Finance and Computer Science. The university is ranked 47th in the UK and 8th in London.
Shops & Leisure
Shopping & dining: Uxbridge is home to two major shopping centres. Intu Uxbridge offers around 70 restaurants and shops, such as Topshop, Debenhams, H&M and Lipsy. The Pavilions shopping centre already hosts retailers such as Wilkinson, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer. Primark opened here in late March 2017 as part of a major redevelopment.
Sports & culture: Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex is located around 13 minutes on foot from the town centre. It offers a range of services, including two Olympic sized swimming pools.
Stockley Park Golf Club is an 18 hole course that covers 6,625 yards.
Green space: Uxbridge is located on the brink of Colne Valley Regional Park, which covers over 40 sq. miles. Former gravel pits have created a string of over 60 lakes running through the park, many of which are used for angling, canoeing and other water sports. Gravel extraction continues in the park and has recently uncovered Roman remains, including a well. Remains of a 5,700 year old Neolithic village were discovered at a gravel pit in Horton in 2013, this is the oldest Village settlement found in the UK.