A round up of Havering’s major new developments in 2023

Schemes in the pipeline include a long-awaited replacement for the Gallows Corner flyover and a long called-for station, but most of the plans centre around homes.

The drive to for new housing comes as Havering Council said it is facing “unprecedented” number of homelessness applications amid the cost-of-living crisis and a rise in interest rates.

The number of homeless approaches in Havering is said to have gone up from 2,032 in 2019-2020, to 3,152 in 2022-23.

To relieve these housing pressure facing the borough, the council is considering building more homes for families, including some 'affordable' housing.

As the year comes to an end, we have done a roundup of the major developments that were proposed or given go ahead in 2023:

Family Welcome Centre, Harold Hill

Councillors visited the development site as the demolition of Abercrombie House began (Image: Havering Council)The original plans to build a new Family Welcome Centre to be used for emergency accommodation had been discussed by the council since 2016.

However, a demolition date for Abercrombie House - the vacant 36-bedroom property for the homeless, was announced in May this year.  The former Harold Hill library and an ex-boxing club were also set to be bulldozed as part of the scheme.

The centre will deliver 74 temporary housing units, with a new health centre, communal facilities, and a secure courtyard.

The scheme is the first phase in the wider Harold Hill town centre regeneration plans.

• Read More: Demolition date set for hostel to make way for family welcome centre

Chippenham Road Redevelopment, Harold Hill

The development on Chippenham Road was opened to public consultation this year (Image: Google Street)The 150-home development to be built between Chippenham Road and Kings Lynn Drive in Harold Hill moved to the next stage this year, with prior approval granted to demolish all existing structures on the site.

The scheme is the second step in the Harold Hill town centre regeneration that includes the Family Welcome Centre and could include the site of the Alderman pub in the coming weeks. A public consultation inviting local people to share their views on the overall plans was carried out by the council.

• Read More: Demolition of buildings approved to make way for 150-home development

Roe Wood Park, Harold Hill

The design of the Roe Wood Park development (Image: Bellway London Partnerships)Another major demolition that began in 2023 was of the former Havering College campus in Harold Hill, which is being torn down to make way for 120 homes.

With Bellway London Partnerships at the helm, the scheme is expected to provide 73 homes and apartments for private sale and 47 ‘affordable’ homes for local people.

Como Street Car Park, Romford

Como Street car park in Romford was closed for public use this year (Image: Google Street)Council-owned Mercury Land Holdings has drawn up plans to build 170 homes on the Como Street Car Park site in Romford. The car park was earmarked for being taken out of public use and disposed of by the council at a meeting in August.

It was an application that raised some concerns from some councillors, who questioned the sale of car parks without adequate public consultation.

Councillor David Taylor of St Edwards Ward had said: “The council must urgently sit down with local residents before they press on with any further plans.”

The council said in response it had published a public notice about the plans and also carried out surveys to back up its decision.

The council decided that the development, if it goes ahead, would not require an Environmental Impact Assessment.

• Read More: Homes already earmarked for Romford car park set to be sold

St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub, Hornchurch:

A computer generated model of the new St George’s Health and Wellbeing hub in Hornchurch (Image: NHS NELFT)The framework for a new health and wellbeing centre to be built in place of the former St George’s Hospital on Suttons Lane was approved in September.

Construction work began on the four-acre site in a major milestone for the project, which was designed to bring a range of health, social care and community services under one roof.

The 356-home development on the same site saw more residents move into 14 new apartments this year.

• Read More: Ex Hornchurch hospital development welcomes more residents

Beam Park Station and Beam Park Health Centre, Rainham

An image shows how the building housing Beam Park Health Centre could look like (Image: Countryside Partnerships)A Rainham and Beam Park planning framework was first launched by the council in 2016. It proposed a multi-million pound regeneration of Beam Park with the aim of building 3,000 homes near Rainham Square.

A station for Beam Park was also a major part of the plans, but has faced delays over the years. This year, shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh MP visited Beam Park amid Labour calls for the Government to allow the planned station to be built.

A health centre nonetheless entered its next phase of development with work beginning to fit out the project. Spanning 1,500sq m, the centre will have 22 consulting rooms among other facilities and is expected to open in 2024.

• Read More: Beam Park Health Centre enters next phase of development

In addition, plans have also been drawn up for a new primary school in Beam Park to cater to the thousands of homes expected.

Gallows Corner Flyover, Romford

Gallows Corner flyover in Romford (Image: Ellie Hoskins)After years of uncertainty over the rebuilding of the Gallows Corner flyover, this year a TfL letter said that the Department for Transport (DfT) has approved funding to demolish and replace the structure.

Ministerial approval was awaited but the letter said the DfT remains “fully committed” to delivering the scheme.

The flyover, which connects A12 Eastern Avenue with the A127 Southend Arterial Road, was initially built as a temporary structure in 1970.

• Read More: TfL bid for Gallows Corner, Romford cash gets boost - letter

Rom Valley Way, Romford

An graphic image of the development once it is completed (Image: Havering Council)An outline plan for the redevelopment of Rom Valley Retail Park and Seedbed Centre into 840 new homes, a 3,000sq m light industrial space, a shop, a restaurant/café, 44 parking bays and play areas was approved by the council in December.

Concerns including pressure on health care facilities, parking and overall amenities in the area were raised by councillors at the meeting. But the proposal was given the go-ahead with six councillors in favour and one against.

The outline for a new primary school to be located on a straddle site of the Seedbed centre and the south-east corner of the Homebase car park was also approved, subject to both the developments going forward.

• Read More: Havering Council outline approval for new Romford school

Bridge Close, Romford

Design for the Bridge Close development (Image: Havering Council)Following the Rom Valley Way approval, the council received a planning application to build 1,070 flats on the site of an industrial area in Bridge Close, Romford.

The proposal includes affordable housing, a health centre, a primary school and a new pedestrian and cycle bridge.

The council said the development incorporates greening and naturalisation of River Rom and will provide improvements to public spaces.

• Read More: Plan to build 1,070 new homes and school in Romford

Ice Rink, Romford

A 3D mock-up of what the development at the former Romford Ice Rink may look like (Image: Impact Capital Group)Another development in the Romford area that received a push this year is the building of 972 homes on the site of a former ice rink.

The scheme received a boost from City Hall in September with a full application approved for 146 flats in one block, and outline plans for the preparation of the site for up to another 826 homes also given the green light.

The council’s strategic planning committee had approved the plans last year, with the first phase including a retail/restaurant unit, a medical and energy centre, and parking spaces.

• Read More: City Hall backing for 972 homes on former Romford ice rink site | Romford Recorder

Data Centre, Upminster

How the proposed East Havering Data Centre and surrounding park could look (Image: Digital Reef)Plans for a data centre believed to be Europe's largest on a 200-hectare farmland to the east of Upminster and Cranham also received a boost as the council decided to progress the plans to a more detailed stage without an informal public consultation.

The council said in October that it will instead produce a detailed analysis and documentation to show the public in a formal consultation process at a later date.

Planning officers say the proposed centre could have a significant environmental impact. If approved, the site will see 15 warehouse-sized buildings with 40,000sq m of horticultural facilities and 50,000sq m of green energy power generation technology among other things.

• Read More:  Plans for huge data centre near Upminster to progress

Quarry, Upminster and Rainham

Rainham Lodge Park in Berwick Pond Road has had long-term plans to build a huge quarry on its land and on December 7 a pre-planning application was presented to the council.

The quarry would be established at the farm to the east of the River Ingrebourne, close to Rainham Marshes.

A presentation made to the council said the quarry would provide around 2 million tonnes of aggregate and 1.3 million cubic metres of airspace for the disposal of inert clay and soils from site clearance works.

They are heavily opposed by people living nearby who have concerns about pollution levels and traffic. 

• Read More: Plans for huge quarry between Upminster and Rainham | Romford Recorder

Waterloo and Queen Street Housing Scheme

This scheme for 1,380 homes in Romford was paused by the council this year while it sought clarity about upcoming changes in the safety legislation regarding tall buildings.