London Borough of Redbridge

Introduction

A new Planning and Regeneration Service for North East London

Redbridge is signing up to a new proactive and design led town planning structure and ethos. To date in 2006 -  Redbridge has brought together its development, policy, design,  building control and regeneration services; consolidated its strong development and building control performance and completed consultation on its Local Development Framework and the Ilford Town Centre Area Action Plan. It has also launched a development and design competition for a town centre public square, mixed use and theatre scheme, a draft Employment and Skills Strategy and Streetscape Design Guide.

This north-east London borough sits above Stratford and the new Olympic site acting as a gateway to the M11 London - Stansted - Cambridge - Peterborough growth Corridor. Ilford - the borough capital -  is a strong metropolitan town centre and is supported by 4 key district centres: Gants Hill; Barkingside; South Woodford and Wanstead. The Liverpool Street - Stratford - Shenfield train route provides fast and regular east/west access to the City from Ilford Town Centre and connects local centres at Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Chadwell Heath. The eastern end of the Central Line (10 stations) support the residential centre of the borough which is gently cushioned either side by substantial Green Belt, ancient woodland and the Roding River Valley.

Redbridge is committed to regeneration, renewal and a strong sense of design and conservation. It will preserve and enhance its 18th and 19th century conservation areas and renew the tired elements of its Edwardian, Inter and post war town centres Ð retaining and enhancing their Òwalkable and communalÓ characteristics. Ilford Town Centre has begun its 15-year renewal process which will be topped off with the arrival of Crossrail. South Ilford and Hainault will continue to be the focus of integrated regeneration programmes.

Employment Opportunities, Training and Development

The Service has been rated "fair" by the Audit Commission. A new performance management system has been set up Ð supported by the serviceÕs own Councillor Scrutiny Committee. We have set up a new pre application design advice service. Redbridge embraces its increasingly diverse community and workforce.  On the job and ongoing training is becoming a part of everyoneÕs work. A new "graduate management trainee" scheme has been adopted Ð and we have invested in a new experimental "service re-design" process that will focus on quality customer responses (the applicant and the community) and quality development and settlement design.

We are not interested in making spaces - we are interested in making places - are you?