News for the community, by the community.
The creeping rebranding of protected green spaces as so-called “grey belt” land is raising growing concern among residents and environmental campaigners, who warn that the move risks opening the door to widespread development on areas once considered untouchable.
Residents on Burnway say they are being terrorised by late-night speeding drivers who treat their quiet residential street like a racetrack, warning the dangerous behaviour is putting lives at risk and could end in tragedy.
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Havering Council is set to introduce new licensing schemes for privately rented homes starting Wednesday 18 March 2026. The measures aim to improve housing standards, protect tenants, and support responsible landlords across the borough.
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Councillor Gillian Ford, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “Keeping safe and warm is an essential part of our
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Demolition work at the Peel Way site in Harold Wood is set to begin in early February 2026, paving the way for new family homes in the area.
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Havering now has an official group of Reform UK councillors at the Town Hall following the defection of two former Conservative councillors. Christine Vickery and Robert Benham have joined the party, bringing the total number of Havering Reform councillors to three alongside Councillor and Keith Prince.
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Havering Council anticipates a £77 million budget gap for 2026/27, despite achieving £40 million in savings recently. Over 70% of the budget is earmarked for statutory services. Future financial pressures are expected, necessitating ongoing efficiency improvements and potential tax increases.
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Havering’s council leader has launched a sharp attack on Nigel Farage, accusing the Reform UK leader of misleading residents about the borough’s financial crisis
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Reform would “attempt” not to borrow more if it took control of the cash-strapped Havering Council, Nigel Farage says.
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Two Romford Conservative councillors have reaffirmed their loyalty to the Conservative Party, making clear their commitment to the residents who elected them and the principles they were chosen to represent.
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Havering Council joined partners to celebrate the achievements of young people in the borough at a special awards ceremony held on Thursday 12 February.
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Romford witnessed a significant political moment yesterday, as Andrew Rosindell, Member of Parliament for Romford, declared “today marks a new era for Romford” while standing alongside his party leader Nigel Farage during a visit to the town.
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Havering Council has formally objected to the Government’s proposed London Emergency Housing Package, warning the plans could remove millions of pounds in local funding and reduce the borough’s control over planning decisions.
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Across the London Borough of Havering, questions are increasingly being raised about whether enough properties are being built or adapted to meet the needs of disabled residents, as demand for accessible housing continues to grow and many families say suitable homes remain extremely difficult to find. With an ageing population and a rising number of people living with long-term health conditions, the need for homes that support independent living has never been greater, yet concerns persist that current housing developments are not keeping pace with local need.
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The YMCA has been given approval from councillors in Barking and Dagenham to build a new six-storey tower block at its site in Rush Green, writes local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann.
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The YMCA has been given approval from councillors in Barking and Dagenham to build a new six-storey tower block at its site in Rush Green, writes local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann.
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Havering’s Inter Faith Forum hosted the borough’s first Cohesion Summit at Havering Town Hall on Tuesday night, bringing together community leaders, organisations and residents to strengthen unity across the borough.
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Havering Council has secured another win in its crackdown on unlawful development after an appeal against a planning enforcement notice at 203 Rush Green Road, Romford, was dismissed.
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Residents in Havering will be paying almost 5% more in council tax from April. Havering Council is set to approve a tax hike of 4.99% for 2026/27, according to a recently published report writes Sebastian Mann.
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A car park in Hornchurch is now underway to be developed into housing. Residents living nearby have watched as trees have been cut down, hedges removed, and green buffers stripped away to make room for heavy machinery and concrete. For many Londoners, it has become a familiar pattern — greenery lost, concrete poured.
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