Transforming Rainham Planning for the future
Transformational plans Plans to transform a large part of Rainham along the A1306 are taking shape. The area between Rainham Village and the Beam Valley Country Park form one of the last locations in London where truly affordable houses can be built for Londoners looking to settle and raise their families, alongside apartments and starter homes. The area was designated by the Mayor of London as a Housing Zone in June 2015. When local residents were consulted in a survey in Autumn 2015, 95% of people asked said they would like to see investment in the former industrial areas along New Road to provide new local homes and green spaces. Three large planning applications are now in preparation covering the old Somerfield site, Beam Park and one location on the north side of the A1306. Look out for notifications of public consultations on these applications. The planning framework that will guide all the developments in the area was adopted by the Council in February this year. Ultimately the area will see the creation of around 3,500 new homes, a brand new railway station on the C2C line, a new 3 form entry primary school, and the provision of additional health facilities for new and current residents of the area. A ÂŁ2m grant earlier this year from Transport for London will allow a proposal to develop a series of green open spaces along the A1306 to be taken forward. The scheme is designed to make the A1306 a residential street where it will be easier for pedestrians and cyclists to move around the area, and remove barriers between the northern and southern sides of the road. An 18 month programme of consultations and planning is well under way with work scheduled to begin in a series of phases later in 2017.