Havering Council To Borrow £46M To Build 1K Flats In Romford.

Cash-trapped Havering Council will borrow £46million to build more than 1,000 new homes in Romford, writes local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann.

The Bridge Close development, constituting 1,070 flats, a new primary school and shops, will cost the council a total of £482m.

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.

Councillor Graham Williamson, cabinet member for housing and regeneration, confirmed the figures at a full council meeting earlier this week.

The council should make its money back 28 years after the estate has been completed, he added.

When asked for a timescale by Conservative councillor Judith Holt, Cllr Williamson said he “doesn’t know exactly when it will start” but the project will take “roughly ten to twelve years”.

Havering Council is desperate for more homes, and it faces intense pressure on its housing budget.

Earlier this year, the council accepted an £88m bailout from the central government in order to plug a £74m budget black hole.

One of the biggest pressures is the cost of temporary accommodation – keeping families at risk of homelessness in bed-and-breakfast-style housing – which led to a £6.1m overspend last year.

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

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”.

Alongside 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.

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.