M4 Elevated Section Could Get A Welcoming Addition

An iconic arch welcoming travellers to the capital could soon be a reality, after Hounslow’s Executive endorsed a proposal for the creation of a ‘Gateway to London’ this week.

Members instructed officers to look into the feasibility of launching a design competition which will be open to everyone, from professional designers to students and children, with the successful design being used to brand Hounslow, West London and the capital as a whole.

The eventual structure would be sited at the point where the elevated section of the M4 starts to rise at Brentford, where travellers first gain an impression of a distinctly urban landscape.

Presenting the report, Hounslow’s Leader, Cllr Peter Thompson, said, “This is a tremendously exciting project, which we hope will generate a real sense of civic pride.

“The vision of a monument to mark entry into and out of London has been on the cards for many years, and we’re keen to move this forward, with the end result being an iconic structure that is immediately recognisable, in a similar way to the Angel of the North.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, and we are only in the early stages of the project, but our intention is to launch a national design competition for a ‘Gateway to London’ that will put Hounslow very much on the map.”

The temporary structure that was erected to support London’s Olympic bid was favourably received by the International Olympic Committee. The proposal for a more permanent structure has the support of the Mayor of London, the Greater London Assembly, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, West London Business, BAA, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Highways Authority.

February 28, 2007