The suburban, semi-rural village of Stanwell Moor sits just to the south west of Heathrow Airport, in the idyllic greenery to the west of Stanwell. The area is made up almost entirely of open greenery and huge bodies of water in the form of the Wraybury and King George VI reservoirs, but the small residential zone is occupied by large post-war residences that are popular with families. The neighbourhood may seem incredibly isolated, but the Heathrow Terminal 5 Underground station provides residents with a surprisingly convenient transport route into central London, and the rumbling M25 splits the area down the middle, making commuting simple for those who drive. Cut off from nearby settlements, the area has ensured that its community can flourish, with a parade of independent shops down Horton Road, and a local favourite, The Anchor pub, which is always full of friendly residents.

The green space of Stanwell Moor was enclosed in the mid-18th century, but the area was always a small village connected to the larger town of Stanwell. A housing estate was built in the village in 1930, and the development of Heathrow Airport after the Second World War encouraged a slightly larger community to form in the area. In the 1960s the dual carriageway of Stanwell Moor Road was built, shortly followed by the M25 London Orbital, cutting off Stanwell Moor from its neighbouring communities. It quickly formed its own residents’ association and began to accommodate for this isolation.

The huge 350-acre King George IV Reservoir holds almost 16 million m3 of water. It was completed in 1939 but left empty because of the outbreak of the Second World War. A fake Clapham Junction station was built in the empty space to confuse the Luftwaffe and have them bomb the more insignificant land rather than the important transport hub of Clapham Junction.

As previously mentioned, the area can feel rather isolated from the neighbouring towns and from the inner city itself because of the open greenery and busy thoroughfares that surround it. The M25’s proximity can also cause issues with noise and air pollution.

The local council has, set about a neighbourhood plan to minimise flood risks, bring derelict buildings back into use, protect biodiversity and small businesses, and extend and enhance safe cycle routes. This will hopefully bring more investment to the often-overlooked rural suburb. The council hope to fulfil the plan by 2032. Very near to the area, Berkeley Group, a large and well-known property developer, is already developing a large residential complex, by the name of ‘Eden Grove’, overlooking the Staines Reservoirs. It is expected to be fully completed in 2026, though homes will be ready to move into in 2023. The development will deliver a stylish collection of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments, which will all be serviced by a 24-hour concierge, a gym, a cinema room & a co-working space. Interest in the project, especially considering it’s low prices compared to more central parts of London, has proven to be quite high considering that half of the flats are already sold.

Thames Water has also been carrying out improvement and new infrastructure works for the Staines Reservoirs. In 2020, they carried out works on the dam and its associated infrastructure to extend its durability and longevity, claiming that these developments will extend the reservoirs usability well into the next century.