“Putting Havering Residents First”-Reform Unveils Ambitious Plan To Turn Borough Into London’s ‘Super Suburb’
Havering’s new Reform administration has unveiled its long-term vision for the borough, promising an ambitious programme designed to put Havering residents and local businesses first, protect the borough’s identity and transform its town centres, economy, housing and green spaces over the years ahead.
The Havering Daily was given an insight into the new Havering 2040 vision, with Council Leader Councillor Keith Prince setting out a plan which looks well beyond the current council term.
Keith Prince said the administration wanted to take a different approach by looking at where Havering should be in 2040 rather than concentrating solely on the immediate political cycle.
“It is the first time in history that an administration has looked beyond the horizon. Beyond the first term. We have a long term vision. It is extremely innovative.”
He said the central message behind the plan was clear.
Havering residents and Havering businesses first.
Keith said the administration wanted to develop what he described as The Havering Way.
He said:
“Havering is very different from other boroughs. It is unique and we want to preserve that. We want to keep that uniqueness.”
The Council Leader also described Havering as having a distinctive geographical and economic position.
“Havering is a gateway for the east. We have our roots in Essex and have links to travel to Kent and the south east of England. We are the gateway to the east and a tollgate to London.”
He said that location could provide advantages for businesses wanting access to London while also being close to Essex and the wider South East.
For residents, he said Havering should remain a place where people can build their lives and raise families.
“For residents this is a place to bring up your families. It is a great place to be for both young and old.”
But the administration acknowledges that Havering faces significant challenges.
The 2040 plan is intended to address those challenges while attempting to maintain what Reform describes as the borough’s existing character.
Keith said:
“Yes, we have challenges. Havering’s 2040 plan is about creating London’s Super Suburb. It is about our values, putting Havering people first.”
Housing will be one of the major issues facing the borough.
The administration says Havering needs homes, but also wants to consider how those homes fit into the wider identity and history of the borough.
Keith said the Council needed to understand Havering’s history while also creating opportunities for businesses and employment.
“We need homes, the building of houses. We need to understand the history of the borough and bring businesses into the borough. It is time to create jobs our residents want.”
The administration also plans to revisit some of the borough’s major strategic documents.
Keith said:
“We will be redoing the Romford Masterplan, have a new Havering plan and a new green plan.”
He also promised greater scrutiny of the decisions being made by the administration.
“We will increase scrutiny and want to be held accountable on the decisions we make.”
One of the most visible areas of the plan will be Havering’s town centres.
The administration has already undertaken a deep clean of Romford town centre, with the Council saying the work is intended to improve the appearance of the area and support local businesses.
Keith said the next ambition was to revitalise Romford Market.
“We want to rebuild Romford Market. Romford Market will be revitalised. It was once an incredible place and a great hub for our borough. We want to bring that back.”
The administration also wants to change the role of some of the Council’s commercial and investment organisations.
Mercury Land Holdings is set to become the Havering Growth Company, while Invest Havering is also being changed as part of the wider approach to attracting investment.
Keith said the objective was to create a borough where people could both live and work.
“We want a place where people can both live and work.”
Invest Havering is intended to play a role in attracting investors and businesses to the borough.
The administration also says it is working with police to tackle shoplifting and wants town centres to become cleaner, safer and more attractive.
Keith said:
“Making our town centres cleaner, safer and attract more people to come to them. Make our town centres attractive and our borough attractive.”
Deputy Leader Councillor Sue Benjamins said the administration also wanted to improve how residents feel about the borough’s future.
“We want to improve morale for residents here and inspire confidence.”
Keith said the 2040 strategy was only the first stage of the administration’s long-term programme.
“This is Stage 1 of the plan. Stage 2 ties into the budget plan.”
He described it as a longer-term framework for how the administration wants Havering to develop.
The Council’s existing 100-day plan has already identified cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods, improved public services, financial stability and putting Havering residents first as priorities.
The 2040 vision now takes that ambition considerably further.
Among the ideas discussed are improving parks, regenerating Romford, attracting businesses, creating jobs, providing homes, strengthening town centres and protecting what the administration believes makes Havering different from other parts of London.
For Keith Prince, the central theme remains the same.
Havering first.
He said:
“For years Havering has seen wrong decisions made or no decisions at all made.”
The 2040 plan is intended to provide a long-term direction for the borough, with the administration saying residents should be able to see how today’s decisions fit into a much longer vision for Havering’s future.
Whether every element of the ambitious programme can ultimately be delivered will depend on future budgets, planning decisions, investment and wider Government funding and policy.
But the message from the new administration is clear: it wants to plan for Havering beyond the next election and create what it describes as London’s Super Suburb.
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