Your Richmond and Richmond Hill
Aim of Village Plan
The Village plan describes a vision for the village area and identifies what the council will do and what local people can do to achieve the vision together. It sets out the key issues and priorities and provides background information on the village area.
A Vision for the Richmond and Richmond Hill Area
The Council has developed the vision by:
- Asking local people and businesses what is important to them in the All in One survey and other consultations.
- Using current plans, policies and projects, the links to which are included in the Plan.
The vision for Richmond is to retain and enhance its unique character and create a cultural centre in and around the Old Town Hall and Riverside.
Richmond’s character derives from the location on the River Thames, its historic built environment and landscape. Historically it was a residence of the English monarchy, and a popular riverside resort and place of entertainment. It was only in 1847 when the railway arrived that Richmond became within commuting distance of central London and substantial housing development took place.
The village area includes the town centre and historic Green, the open spaces along the riverside including The Quinlan Terry Riverside development, Richmond Promenade and the Old Deer Park and the residential areas on Richmond Hill and the area to the east along the Lower Richmond Road and Upper Richmond Road.
The town centre is the major shopping centre in the borough comprising a range of good multiple and smaller specialised shops within a high quality environment. It also has a wide range of leisure and entertainment facilities such as the theatres, Pools on the Park, the Museum of Richmond and numerous public houses and restaurants. There are also local shopping centres at Sheen Road, Friars Stile Road, Kew Road and Lower Mortlake Road.
The aim is that Richmond will continue to be a thriving major centre with convenience and specialist shops, employment, leisure and tourism, cultural and social facilities. The local centres will provide for the day to day needs of residents with an increase in specialist shops to attract visitors. The growth of the evening economy will be carefully managed to ensure the amenity of residents is maintained and the possibility of gaining Purple Flag status will be explored. The character outside the centre although largely residential has a number of offices and other facilities, which will be retained.
The many historic buildings in the area and attractive streets, open areas and riverside will continue to be protected, enhanced and enjoyed by local people and visitors.
How we came up with the area covered by the Plan
In our All in One survey in 2010, we asked people to tell us what they considered to be their ‘local area’. We used the information residents gave us to draw up the village area shown on this map. The boundaries are not prescriptive; villages overlap and people can choose whichever area they most identify with and contribute to any of the Village Plans. Anyone who lives close to a village area – or who works there or has some other connection – is welcome to make comments about the village plan or get involved in making the area better, even if they do not live within the village boundary as shown here.
Richmond and Richmond Hill Village includes parts of Ham, Petersham & Richmond Riverside, North Richmond and South Richmond wards.