A marvellous legacy remembering one of our members, Jim McAllister of the Rutland Group…..
A Lasting Legacy Honoured at Bedfont Lakes: Meadow and Memorial Bench Dedicated to Visionary Developer Jim McAllister
The Rutland Group, in collaboration with the London Borough of Hounslow, has today (20 July 2025) dedicated a memorial bench and officially named a meadow at Bedfont Lakes Country Park in memory of Jim McAllister, the visionary developer whose pioneering efforts transformed one of Europe’s largest contaminated landfill sites into one of London’s most cherished green spaces.
This tribute marks not only Jim’s enduring legacy and the 30th anniversary of the park opening, but also celebrates one of the capital’s most remarkable regeneration stories.
In 1988, The Rutland Group acquired a heavily contaminated site adjacent to a poorly regarded industrial estate in Bedfont, near Heathrow. Once infamously described as “the largest pile of rubbish in Europe”, the 300-acre site consisted largely of derelict, unrestored gravel pits and former landfill.
Working in close partnership with the London Borough of Hounslow, Rutland undertook one of the most ambitious land remediation and regeneration schemes of its kind. Following detailed consultation and expert masterplanning, the Company secured planning consent for the creation of:
60 acres of prime development land, including a one million sq. ft. office campus, now home to global corporations such as IBM, Cisco, SAP and British Airways;
10 acres of residential housing and 300,000 sq. ft. of industrial units;
A new dual carriageway linking to the A30, a diverted Heathrow fuel pipeline, and major supporting infrastructure.
At the heart of Jim’s vision was something far greater: nature, sustainability, and long-term community benefit.
The Rutland Group retained and transformed over 200 acres of the site into what is now Bedfont Lakes Country Park—London’s fifth largest park and a designated Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. The park features:
25 acres of lakes, including 7 acres of fishing lakes
7 km of bentonite trenching to contain ground gases
300,000 trees planted, along with 10 tonnes of grass seed and 7 tonnes of wildflower seed
A fully accessible, ecologically rich environment enjoyed by thousands of people each year.
After managing the park for three years, Rutland donated it to the people of Southwest London, alongside a permanent endowment fund to ensure its maintenance in perpetuity.
In 2000, Bedfont Lakes was selected as one of only six Millennium Marque Sites and has since won four prestigious environmental awards.
Today’s ceremony saw the unveiling of a memorial bench and meadow overlooking the parkland and one of the park’s tranquil lakes, providing a space for quiet reflection.
“Jim’s belief in sustainability, long-term vision, and community was ahead of its time,” said Jamie McAllister, Chief Executive, The Rutland Group. “What he built at Bedfont Lakes wasn’t just a regeneration project—it was a legacy of his deep commitment to environmental conservation, public access to green spaces, and urban biodiversity. Bedfont Lakes stands as a symbol of what is possible when long-term thinking, environmental stewardship, and community values come together, and we’re proud to honour Jim here today.”
Jim founded and led The Rutland Group through more than 40 successful developments across the UK. But it was his personal involvement in and commitment to complex, long-term projects like Bedfont Lakes that defined his unique approach to development—balancing commercial success with the environment and lasting public good.
As local families, wildlife enthusiasts, and visitors walk the paths around McAllister’s Meadow or pause at the bench bearing his name, they become part of a continuing story: one of renewal, generosity, and vision that turned a forgotten corner of West London into a national model for environmental regeneration.
