Rainham
Where
At the eastern end of London Riverside, where the London Borough
of Havering meets the river Thames. LTGDC shares an
administrative border with the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development
Corporation (TTGDC).
Key figures
- Benefits by 2016: 3,200 new homes in Rainham village centre and
along the A1306 corridor towards South Dagenham; 7.6 hectares of
improved business and education facilities
- LTGDC investment by 2011: £30m
- Projected private investment by 2016: £94m.
About the area
Rainham has a charming village character, which will be enhanced
by a series of projects identified in a master plan, drawn up by
the LTGDC in partnership with the London Borough of Havering, with
input from the Environment Agency, the National Trust and English
Heritage. We are seeking to bring more activity to the village
centre with new homes, transport interchange, a public square,
places to eat and a library and learning centre.
The run-down industrial and warehousing property along the A1306
corridor has been the subject of a masterplan that considers
development potential, and areas of New Road will benefit from
gradual upgrading to a mixed-use development of family homes,
starter flats, clean modern workplaces and environmental
improvements that allow public access to Rainham Creek.
LTGDC projects
Since 2006, LTGDC has been purchasing the sites needed to make
the village centre and Creek-side improvements possible.
Sites acquired include land at Rainham station, along Broadway,
at the Creek-side and significantly Amberley House on New Road.
Until now this landmark site has been occupied by Carpetright as
their national headquarters. The LTGDC will secure vacant
possession during the spring of 2008. For both projects at Rainham
Broadway and on the New Road, LTGDC are seeking a development
partner to deliver high quality mixed use schemes which will
promote attractive public spaces and local energy generation., as
well as the business space and homes.
The works to Ferry Lane North will be completed by June 2008.
Local users will notice a distinct improvement to the quality of
the carriageway, footpath and cycle-way. Local wildlife will also
benefit from new drainage to the Rainham marshes site of special
scientific interest. This project was mostly funded by the LTGDC,
and managed by the London Borough of Havering.
Other projects
On Rainham's doorstep the creation of Wildspace; the London
Riverside Conservation Park will benefit the local economy and
regional visitors alike. It is anticipated that an area of 645
hectares of historic marshland will benefit from further
environmental improvements and sensitively located visitor
attractions. Early projects already under way include the discovery
zones, boardwalks and cattle corals at the RSPB’s Education Centre
at Purfleet, and a footpath and cycle-way that will eventually run
from Rainham station all the way to the Purfleet attractions.
When appropriate permissions and funding are secured, later
phases may include new gateways to the park and a visitor centre at
Rainham, and a public auditorium carved out of the remediated
landscaped land-fill.