HAROLD HILL EAST RESIDENTS TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN 10-YEAR NEIGHBOURHOOD INVESTMENT PLAN

16th October 202616th October 2026 The Havering Daily 0 Comments Act, Art, Awareness, Board, Board Members, Community, Day, Decision, Development, Harold Hill, Harold Hill East, Havering Council, Health and Wellbeing, Place, Place Board, Pride min read

Around 600 residents have already had their say on the future of Harold Hill East, and now a resident-led board is taking the next steps towards shaping a decade of investment in the area.

Residents and representatives from local community and voluntary organisations came together yesterday for the Harold Hill East Pride in Place Awareness Day, marking an important milestone in the development of the area’s ten-year Neighbourhood Investment Programme.

The event was designed to equip the resident-led Board with a deeper understanding of local services, community needs, existing investment and opportunities to improve the neighbourhood.

The Board will play a central role in developing a long-term vision for Harold Hill East and making recommendations on how future Pride in Place investment should be used over the next decade.

The Awareness Day formed part of the programme’s listening and learning phase, giving Board Members the knowledge, evidence and local insight needed to make informed decisions on behalf of the community.

Around 600 residents have already engaged with the programme through events and activities, helping to identify the issues and opportunities that matter most to local people.

The Board brings together residents and representatives from community and voluntary organisations, with the aim of ensuring local people are at the heart of decisions about their area’s future.

Working alongside local partners and stakeholders, it will help develop a shared vision for Harold Hill East and recommend how Pride in Place investment can deliver the greatest benefits for residents.

Board hears from local services

Throughout the day, Board Members heard directly from organisations and services working across Harold Hill and Havering, gaining a clearer picture of the challenges facing the community, the work already under way and where further improvements could make a difference.

Presentations included updates on community safety and crime reduction, with officers outlining work through the Our Harold Hill Clear, Hold, Build programme and discussing priorities including youth-related crime, shoplifting and drug-related activity.

Members also heard about community-led approaches to building confidence, resilience and safer neighbourhoods.

Parks and open spaces were another focus, with updates on existing and proposed investment, opportunities to improve green spaces and ways to encourage more residents to use local parks.

Discussions explored how future Pride in Place funding could support environmental improvements and create welcoming, accessible and attractive spaces for people of all ages.

Other sessions covered issues affecting local people, including support for young people, health and wellbeing, community facilities, older residents, transport, regeneration and wider neighbourhood development.

Board Members were able to ask questions, examine evidence and gain a better understanding of how services work together to improve outcomes for residents.

The event also provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships between the Board and local stakeholders, helping identify where collaboration and community-led investment could deliver further benefits.

What matters most to Harold Hill residents?

Community engagement so far has highlighted several key priorities: support for young people, community safety, parks and green spaces, health and wellbeing, and support for older residents.

The Awareness Day allowed Board Members to examine these issues in greater depth and consider how existing services, programmes and investment are already addressing local needs.

The knowledge gained will help shape future engagement with residents and support the development of a long-term investment plan reflecting the aspirations and priorities of the community.

Over the coming months, Board Members will continue working with residents, community groups, schools, faith organisations and local partners to ensure the programme remains rooted in local voices and community leadership.

Paul Rose, Chair of the Harold Hill East Pride in Place Board, said:

“Today’s Awareness Day has given Board Members a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the organisations and services working across Harold Hill and to deepen our understanding of both the opportunities and challenges facing the area.

“As a resident-led Board, we have a responsibility to listen to our community, understand the evidence and make informed decisions about the future direction of the programme over the coming years. The information shared today will help us develop a vision that reflects local aspirations and ensure that future investment recommendations are informed by the needs and priorities of local people.”

Harold Hill East was selected by the Government to participate in the Pride in Place programme, which supports communities to take a leading role in identifying priorities and shaping long-term investment in their local area.

Cllr Keith Prince, Board Member, Harold Hill East Pride in Place Board, said:

“Pride in Place is all about giving local people a genuine voice in shaping the future of their neighbourhood, and today’s Awareness Day has been an important step in that journey. By bringing together residents, community organisations and local services, we are helping to ensure that decisions about future investment are informed by a strong understanding of the challenges, opportunities and aspirations within Harold Hill East.

The strength of this programme lies in the commitment of local people. The resident-led Board is already demonstrating the passion, insight and leadership needed to develop a long-term vision that reflects what matters most to the community. I look forward to seeing that work continue as we move into the next phase of the programme.”

Julia Lopez, Board Member and MP, said:

“People in Harold Hill know where investment could make the biggest difference, whether that is safer streets, more opportunities for young people or better places to meet and spend time together. We need their ideas and experience to make the most of this funding.

Around 600 residents have already shared their views, but we must keep reaching out, particularly to people who might not normally get involved. As a Board member, I want us to turn those conversations into clear priorities, spend the money carefully and show residents what their involvement has helped achieve. This is an opportunity to deliver improvements that local people can see, use and take pride in.”

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