Hounslow, like many London boroughs, faces significant challenges in housing, council finance, and social care. Whoever takes control after the May 7 local elections will have a demanding agenda. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has analysed the manifestos of each major party to outline their commitments for the next four years.
Conservative Party
The Conservatives have outlined several key policies for Hounslow, focusing on housing standards, community safety, and fiscal responsibility.
Housing
- Introduce a 'Hounslow Standard' for new homes, requiring proper sound insulation, adequate space, and a priority on family-sized homes.
- Expand and strengthen the HMO enforcement team to crack down on rogue landlords.
- Limit excessive concentrations of HMOs on single streets.
- Bring back a practical handyman service for older residents in sheltered and social housing to assist with minor repairs.
Communities
- Increase visible police patrols in town centres and neighbourhoods.
- Publish police contacts for each ward.
- Hold regular street surgeries.
- Prioritise Feltham for a flagship Youth Zone and begin a phased return of qualified youth workers.
- Re-establish Area Forums with real power, controlling defined neighbourhood budgets to empower residents.
Environment and Transport
- Stop the expansion of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), review all existing schemes, and give residents a formal right to challenge LTNs and 20mph zones.
- Introduce free neighbourhood bulky waste drop-off days via community skips to reduce fly-tipping.
- Oppose Heathrow expansion.
Finance and Local Economy
- Bring back financial discipline and aim to freeze council tax where possible.
- Fund key services by cutting waste.
- Introduce a business-first test for major decisions to assess their impact on footfall and local trade.
- Maintain all existing 30-minute free stop-and-shop parking in town centres.
Green Party
The Green Party's manifesto emphasises social housing, climate action, and support for local businesses.
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Housing
- Push for a radical change in the local planning system to prioritise social rent housing over large-scale 'affordable' developments that favour big developers.
- Fundamentally oppose building on the Green Belt, focusing development on appropriate sites that do not destroy local green spaces.
Communities
- Support community policing that tackles the root causes of crime to deliver safer, greener, and more vibrant neighbourhoods.
- Enhance local democracy by ensuring residents have a greater say in council decision-making.
- Protect and invest in vital community assets, including youth services and libraries, to support residents' wellbeing.
Environment and Transport
- Take immediate local action on the climate emergency, aiming for the council to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and transition its entire fleet to electric vehicles.
- Strictly oppose the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
- Support the implementation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) where appropriate, alongside massive investments in safer cycling infrastructure and active travel to clean up the borough's air.
Finance and Local Economy
- Focus heavily on supporting local, independent, and small businesses rather than multinational corporations, while promoting the Living Wage across the borough.
- Create new green jobs and commit the council to ethical procurement and investment practices.
- Support the transition to a circular economy by increasing recycling rates and reducing waste.
Labour Party
Labour has set out ambitious plans for affordable housing, community investment, and environmental improvements.
Housing
- Deliver 2,500 genuinely affordable homes for local people and invest £125 million over three years to build new council homes.
- Invest £150 million by 2030 to improve council estates and introduce lifetime tenancies to give local people security.
- Introduce an additional licensing scheme for HMOs and enforce against irresponsible landlords.
Communities
- Invest £11 million into short-stay SEND provision and increase SEND capacity across the borough.
- Ensure a 24-hour response is available for noise complaints and antisocial behaviour through a new Enforcement Team.
- Deliver a new leisure centre to replace the Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, alongside a new world-class arts centre in Brentford.
Environment and Transport
- Introduce free bulky waste collection alongside local community skip days to crack down on fly-tippers.
- Deliver the West London Orbital railway and campaign to make all Hounslow stations fully step-free.
- Invest £1.4 million in a 'Playground Pledge' to refurbish existing equipment and bring all playgrounds up to scratch.
Finance and Local Economy
- Set up ring-fenced town centre and neighbourhood parade improvement funds for every local area to improve the look and feel of high streets.
- Offer start-up grants for local entrepreneurs and Living Wage Accreditation grants to reward good local employers.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have focused on affordable housing, community policing, and environmental sustainability.
Housing
- Require major new developments to include at least 35% affordable housing and prioritise homes for local residents.
- Identify long-term empty properties and work with housing associations to bring abandoned homes back into use.
- Require developers to invest in local infrastructure such as schools, transport, and green space.
Communities
- Campaign for more visible policing by working with the Metropolitan Police to increase neighbourhood policing teams.
- Rebuild youth services by investing in youth workers, community youth programmes, and creating safe youth spaces across the borough.
- Ensure all council-commissioned care staff receive at least the Living Wage and improve working conditions.
Environment and Transport
- Move Hounslow towards net zero by introducing a borough carbon budget and retrofitting council buildings with insulation and solar energy.
- Implement a dedicated repair program for potholes to make driving and cycling safer, and build joined-up cycle lanes.
- Plant thousands of new trees and expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Finance and Local Economy
- Keep tax rises as low as possible, publish clear breakdowns of how council tax is spent, and hold public consultations before any increases.
- Safeguard libraries, leisure centres, and community spaces, promoting discounted or free usage for Hounslow residents.
- Review council contracts to ensure residents are getting value for money and introduce stronger oversight of outsourced services.
Reform UK
Reform UK has not published a manifesto for Hounslow. However, the Chairman of Hounslow Reform, Prabhdeep Singh, says he will fight for lower taxes, safer streets, better public services, and real political accountability. He is also against ULEZ. Hounslow Reform says it will prioritise the perspective of local residents by encouraging dialogue and active involvement in decision-making. The party also commits to implementing effective measures to enhance neighbourhood safety.
