What’s going on in Newham

Newham was quick to seize the early opportunities for physical regeneration offered by the major brownfield sites of the “Arc” running along the Lea Valley and around to the Royal Docks. These sites have changed from peripheral to strategic locations following the recognition that London’s development should occur eastwards and be enabled by new and improved transport links to Central London and later to Kent and the Continent. Newham lobbied long and hard to secure support for the new rail routes and this has been a major success, making Newham the “portal” to the Thames Gateway. Much has since been achieved as a result of higher subsequent land values, particularly in Stratford and the Royal Docks areas. These initial regeneration phases, together with the associated improvements in public transport, have drawn the attention of Government, developers, and investors to the real potential of ‘Metropolitan’ Newham as a new place to live and work.

Without doubt, Metropolitan Newham (comprising the Lower Lea, Royal Docks, and East Beckton) will be the main focus of physical regeneration in London for most of the next decade. Transformational change will take place through:

The building of Stratford City (over 5,000 new homes and 30,000 jobs)
The creation of the Olympic Park before 2012.
The regeneration of the Brooks Estate, Canning Town, Silvertown Quay, East Beckton and other parts of the Lower Lea and the Royal Docks.
The opening of the International Rail Station in 2007 and the extensions to the DLR from the end of 2005 through to 2009.
The likelihood of further new ‘transport links’ for Newham in the future such as the Thames Gateway Bridge and Crossrail.

These projects are together with the strategies for ensuring local communities benefit from these schemes through jobs, business growth and community infrastructure are vital drivers for Newham’s future economic prosperity as they will significantly increase the population base in these areas and bring in more spending power to support and stimulate local businesses. Some of the projects, in particular Canning Town and the Brooks Estate, will be exemplars for Mixed tenure, more affordable, sustainable neighbourhoods as opposed to the predominantly single tenure, affluent developments of the early years of regeneration in East London’s docklands.

Last year the Service achieved the following key milestones:

Outline Planning Permission to Stratford City granted February 2005
Which contributed to a positive Olympics Decision in July 2005
Developing the Employment Strategy
Creating a range of new projects so local people can access jobs in the health, construction and customer service sectors with over 400 accessing jobs
Working with developers to bring forward new schemes and attract infrastructure
An excellent NDC programme in Forest Gate and Plaistow bring investment to local people, schools, parks and estates
Working to secure a large casino license for Newham
Building control officers ensuring the quality of projects such as Excel and a range of mixed use schemes
Taking forward the Local Development Framework for Newham
Silvertown Quays Planning Approval March 2005

There is more to come including

Working to ensure a successful Olympic Games and a legacy to benefit local communities
Setting up of Employment one stop shops so local people can access new and existing job opportunities
Stratford Partnership to look at integration between existing town centre and new developments
S106 Silvertown Quays completed by July 2006
Major Public Inquiries on Thames Gateway Bridge, Peruvian Wharf and Desalination Plant completed during 2006
Working with partners to bring forward the Canning Town Housing Renewal Scheme
Work on future transport schemes such as East London Transit, Thames Gateway bridge, DLR extensions

If you think you have the passion, energy and commitment to contribute to the Service and also can see that Newham has a lot to offer you then please visit the opportunities section to find out more.