Havering Council Poised To Push Through 1,000 New Romford Homes.

Havering Council is poised to approve plans for more than 1,000 new homes as part of a borough-wide push for more housing, writes local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann.

The 1,070 new flats will form the Bridge Close development, alongside a new primary school and nursery, shops, health centres, green spaces, and a pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting it to Romford.

The homes will spread across three towers, each comprising 383 flats. More than a third will be ‘affordable’ housing aimed at residents on lower incomes who cannot afford to buy a home outright.

The scheme has been recommended for approval at next week’s strategic planning committee by the council’s planning department. The committee, made up of elected councillors, is in charge of approving or refusing large-scale plans in the borough.

Plans for Bridge Close were first put forward in November 2023, in conjunction with the long-delayed Romford Masterplan.

They have now been reworked following consultation with the council’s own planning department, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London and changes to fire safety legislation.

Alongside the enhanced safety measures, the council has added provisions for solar panels and cycle storage, and strengthened flooding defences. The development will be largely car-free.

Ahead of next week’s meeting, Councillor Graham Williamson, the cabinet member for development, said: “We are committed to creating a scheme that reflects the input and aspirations of our community.

“This addendum demonstrates our dedication to transparency and engagement throughout this process.”

The project will also involve the naturalisation of the River Rom. The existing western river wall will be broken out and replaced with a partially naturalised riverbank, in a bid to improve ecology in the area and create an “active and safe environment”.

Havering Islamic Cultural Centre is planning to move to South Street after the council announced it would need to purchase its Waterloo Road site to accommodate its plans for Bridge Close.

In 2018, the council created a joint venture company, Bridge Close Regeneration LLP, with private developers First Base and Savills to fund the development.

However, following “stagnation in the housing market and increased costs”, both developers decided not to continue with the project, forcing the council to buy them out.

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