RAF West Ruislip
| RAF West Ruislip | |
|---|---|
| Ickenham, Middlesex | |
Aerial view of RAF West Ruislip in 1945 - RAF Blenheim Crescent is to the north-east of the railway line | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Maintenance and administrative |
| Condition | Demolished |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 51°34′7.58″N 000°26′15.80″W / 51.5687722°N 0.4377222°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1917 |
| Built by | American Construction Company |
| Demolished | 2007 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Lieutenant Commander H. Lee (first) |
| Occupants | No. 4 Maintenance Unit (RAF) RAF Records Office Navy Exchange of U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom US Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department |
RAF West Ruislip was a Ministry of Defence site, located in Ickenham within the London Borough of Hillingdon. The base was originally built as a depot for the Royal Air Force (RAF), split by what is now the Chiltern Main Line. North of the railway was RAF Blenheim Crescent, which housed the RAF Records Office and the depot's original personnel accommodation.
The site was leased to the US Air Force in 1955, followed by the US Navy in 1975, eventually housing the Navy Exchange of the U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom command, and the Navy's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department.
Following a review of properties, the US Navy vacated the site in 2006 and it became surplus to the Ministry of Defence's requirements under Project MoDEL. The following year, initial plans for around 415 homes and a retirement home were approved by the London Borough of Hillingdon in July 2007. Almost all buildings were subsequently demolished to make way for the new development. Cala Homes bought the 21-acre (85,000 m2) site for £180m in November.