Ilford
As one of the Mayor’s Metropolitan Town Centres, Ilford is the Borough’s key focus for regeneration which will unlock its growth potential and reinvigorate its status as a gem of east London.
We have launched an exciting manifesto for Ilford Town Centre which has set out a number of priorities aimed at reclaiming the town’s place as the heart of a modern east London.
The Ilford prospectus takes the promises within the manifesto and sets out how they can be delivered across the Town Centre in spatial form.
View the Ilford Delivery Prospectus (PDF 16.4 MB)
The Spark Ilford
A new Cultural Quarter is coming to Ilford town centre which will combine civic, leisure, education and community uses.
The area surrounding Redbridge Town Hall and Oakfield Road will be the heart of this change, boosting cultural activity both day and night. Funding has been secured through the Mayor of London's Good Growth Fund.
“The Spark Ilford” has been developed to kick-start the regeneration of the Cultural Quarter bringing meanwhile projects that will transform three Council assets, initially for a five-year period whilst longer term plans are developed.
SPACE studios as part of the Spark Ilford project, are transforming the Town Hall car park and the Town Hall building.
It will be an exciting time for Ilford Town Centre, the Spark will bring intriguing events and illuminate the community spirit of Ilford, bringing people together through art, enterprise, events and food.
Malachi Place
We have agreed to make 1a Chadwick Road available to The Salvation Army on a five year lease to use the space to create a a 'pop up hostel and workshop' in Ilford town centre.
Functioning as temporary accommodation units with an integrated bicycle refurbishment social enterprise, this project will count as ‘meanwhile use’ prior to the Ilford town centre regeneration.
Converted shipping containers accommodate 42 people, including 15 people that have no recourse to public funds.
Salvation Army volunteers will be on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to offer welfare support to the homeless individuals living there.
The Salvation Army's Recycles Ilford will also be based on the ground floor of the block which will provide work and training for a number of rough sleepers.
Find out more on the Salvation Army's website.
Ilford Housing Zone
The Housing Zone has enabled the housing led regeneration of the Ilford Hill and High Road areas. It's expected the total development investment as a result of the new Housing Zone could be over £500 million. The Zone will boost our drive to increase housing supply in the area and capitalise on the arrival of Crossrail.
Production of the Ilford Manifesto followed by the Regenerating Ilford: Delivery Prospectus in July 2017 has helped to generate additional developer interest, particularly around the “Ilford Circus” area which surrounds the railway station. These schemes, with our first 700 homes nearly completed, will transform Ilford Hill into a new residential community.
Benefits of the zone
The Housing Zone is designed to help make Ilford a vibrant and attractive town centre. It is hoped it will improve the integration of the town centre with investment to renew the public realm, tackle congestion and calm traffic as well as improving access to Ilford Station from York Road and Ilford Hill.
With delivery of the first 700 new homes well underway and a pipeline of sites in development, it is essential that the appropriate infrastructure is in place to support the needs of new and existing residents. Through the establishment of the Housing Zone, the Council has secured a Southern Station Entrance in Ilford Hill as a key infrastructure requirement.
How it will be achieved
We are working with private sector partners in the area, including Durkan Estates, Swan Nu Living, Development Securities and others to bring forward new housing in the zone.
The development could support up to 4,000 jobs and 150 apprenticeships in the construction supply chain, with potential for around 300 construction jobs and 20 apprenticeships to be created each year in Ilford for the next five years.
Current Ilford Housing Zone Schemes
Full planning consent is in place for the following housing developments and they are currently being built around Ilford Hill location:
- Horizon by U&I developers - 122 units for Market Rent. Completed July 2018
- The Paragon by Swan Nu Living - 141 units for Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent. Full scheme completed December 2019
- Britannia Music Site by Durkan Developers - 354 units of Market Sale, Market Rent, Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent
- 206 units for Market Rent to completed in 2020 marketed by M&G
- 148 units for Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent completed in September 2019 marketed by Southern Housing
Ilford Western Gateway
The Ilford Western Gateway (IWG) project plans to develop the area between Ilford Hill flyover and Ilford Station creating safer, greener and more accessible spaces for people to work, live and play.
We aim to redefine the arrival into Ilford, establishing a garden quarter and creating a public realm that rebalances the currently car-dominated environment. The IWG will capitalise on the arrival of the Elizabeth Line and complement the wider regeneration of Ilford.
Plans include:
- Approximately 1000 new homes with excellent amenities and services;
- Well connected walking and cycling routes;
- Attractive green spaces with a variety of planting to improve air quality;
- Approximately 30,000sq ft of commercial and community spaces to support local groups and businesses;
- Redevelopment of the existing Ilford gyratory.
In September 2022 it was announced that Countryside, the UK's leading mixed-tenure developer with 45 years of placemaking experience had been selected to jointly deliver the IWG with the Council.
We have begun a process of negotiating with third party interests with a view to acquiring all land and rights required to deliver the IWG. However, should we be unable to acquire all land and rights by agreement we intend to seek powers of compulsory acquisition.
What is a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)?
A compulsory purchase order (CPO) is a legal tool which may be used by some organisations, including councils, to compulsorily acquire land or property to support building development, regeneration and infrastructure projects that are in the public interest.
Further information on CPOs and The Crichel Down Rules can be found on GOV.UK
Cabinet authorised the in-principle use of CPO power in February 2021. Please see minutes from February 11 2021 Cabinet meeting.
As the Compulsory Purchase progresses, relevant documents and information will be added to this web page.
