Havering Council has agreed the final terms to adopt the interest of its joint venture partner, Notting Hill Properties Limited (NHCP).
The Council formed its joint venture (JV) with NHCP in March 2018. At the heart of the plans was the regeneration of nine strategic sites along the A1306, of vacant, former industrial, brownfield sites with the potential for large-scale redevelopment.
The Council’s vision for Rainham and Beam Park was supported by the Greater London Authority’s decision to provide a new railway station, along with the transformation of the A1306 and the major residential development sites that flank it.
This was framed in plans for an area-wide transformation, from that of a post-industrial legacy of decline into a thriving new residential community designed and built around principles of high-quality design, affordable housing, enhanced open space provision, social infrastructure and access to public transport and employment opportunities.
The land acquisition process that was required to assemble these sites for development was to be delivered by Notting Hill Genesis (NHG), a not-for-profit housing provider.
It was to have been supported, until it was withdrawn in December 2021, by the making of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) by the Council to enable the acquisition of interests that could not be acquired by NHG.
Although a number of interests had been acquired by NHG, significant challenges emerged that meant the objectives of the JV were no longer capable of being met.
These included uncertainties arising from Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, delays to delivery programme, development cost uplift, inflation and economic contraction. It was significantly compounded by delays to the proposed Beam Park Station, which the Council continues to lobby on and significant progress continues to be made.
In order to continue its plans to regenerate the area, the Council has reached an agreement with NHCP to purchase their interest in the JV and to undertake the transfer of the properties acquired by NHG.
This will allow the Council to progress with its long-held objective to protect the regeneration ambitions for the area in accordance with adopted and emerging planning policy.
Under the new arrangement, the Council will be in full control of the joint venture including future funding and delivery arrangements.
This includes meanwhile use opportunities, including temporary housing to help reduce the homeless demand housing pressures, which will help to save money on more expensive alternative temporary accommodation.
Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of the Council, said:
“It has always been the Council’s objective to regenerate this part of Rainham, to help businesses to grow, attract inward investment, create new jobs and to build much-needed, high-quality, affordable homes for local people.
“Working within the framework of Havering’s Local Plan, and despite our financial pressures, we hope to achieve better outcomes for our businesses, residents and visitors to Rainham to achieve the full potential for this part of the borough.
“We will continue to work with local businesses and residents throughout this process.”
Jake Brodetsky, Joint Venture Partnerships Director for Notting Hill Genesis, said:
“The regeneration of Rainham and Beam Park is a very exciting project on which we have worked in partnership with Havering Council since 2018.
“We are sure the Council will go on to deliver a fantastic new location that will attract individuals and families from the borough and beyond, and we look forward to working together in the future.”
The Council continues to work with stakeholders including Rt Hon Margaret Mullane, MP for Rainham and Dagenham, Thames Freeport, Thames Estuary Growth Board, Barking and Dagenham Council, the GLA, Transport for London, Department for Transport, local businesses and residents to lobby for the station at Beam Park to go ahead.