About Harold Hill Ambitions

Creating opportunities for local people "to lead a content, quiet and safe life in a clean environment. With decent housing, education and affordable activities for all ages."

What is Harold Hill Ambitions?

Harold Hill Ambitions is a proposal to transform the quality of life for residents. The programme includes:

• building new and improved facilities such as a modern library
• building a state-of-the-art Learning Village with new schools and colleges
• improved streets and roads
• providing better parks
• building a new centre for young people
• building two new children's centres and improved community centres.

But the project is not just about new buildings, it's also about creating new opportunities for local people to:

• get better jobs
• get better healthcare and fitness
• learn new skills
• get more support for community groups
• stamp out anti-social behaviour
• help older residents live happy, independent lives
• help those that want to take the first steps towards home ownership
• give children the best start in life at a groundbreaking Learning Village on their doorstep.

Why is it important to renew the Harold Hill area?

Harold Hill is celebrating its 60^th anniversary. As we look towards the next twenty years, we need to take forward the good things about the community and address the things that need to be changed.

Statistics show that people who live in Harold Hill are more likely to have a long-term illness and less likely to have qualifications or a full time job than people in other parts of Havering.

Although government statistics say that Harold Hill has seen a reduction of 10% in crime between 2005 and 2007 more people are concerned about crime here than anywhere else in the borough. An independent survey found that three-quarters of Harold Hill residents believe 'people do not treat each other with respect and consideration.' Perceptions of vandalism and graffiti as a problem are greater in Harold Hill than other areas of Havering.

We asked over 300 local people their views about Harold Hill in July 2008 and over 85% said the area needed to change in order to get better.

The Council acting alone cannot make these changes. We need the support of the community to get behind this 20 year programme that will not just build new and improved facilities but change how people think about Harold Hill. So this proposal is not just about physical renewal it is also about creating new opportunities for the people who live on Harold Hill.

About the Harold Hill Ambitions Programme:

In November 2008 the Council approved the Harold Hill Ambitions Programme, launching a major programme of regeneration that promises to transform the area over the next twenty years.

The multi-million pound package includes a modern Learning Village with a new Academy school and college campus; improvements to the Hilldene shopping centre; a new library; a new park in Broxhill with modern sporting facilities;, improvements to Central Park; moderate housing development, including affordable and shared ownership homes, a £2 million package for road and pavement improvements, and a new youth centre.

The Harold Hill Ambitions Programme was subject to an extensive consultation process with Harold Hill residents in 2007 and 2008. 

2007 Consultation:

In the summer of 2007, Havering Council consulted staff, stakeholders and residents on Harold Hill to get their views on what could be done to improve the area. 

The discussions covered a number of areas, including: community life, streets and open spaces, community buildings, housing, shopping, education, employment and training.  More than 1,200 local people told the Council about their ambitions for Harold Hill. 

Residents told us they wanted Harold Hill to be a great place to live, work and bring up a family. They wanted a thriving community, excellent education and employment opportunities for all, sport and recreational activities for young people, initiatives to tackle crime and anti social behaviour and modern affordable family housing.

Based on the feedback and comments received during this first consultation, the Council began developing the Harold Hill Ambitions proposals.

2008 Consultation:

Residents got their first chance to see the regeneration proposals at the Harold Hill Ambitions Festival on 7th September 2008 marking the beginning of the second consultation which ran until 6th October 2008 with more than 30 events set up to actively let people have their say.

The overwhelming majority of residents (97 per cent) backed plans to improve community safety, including the creation of community action safety zones, putting more special constables on the streets and installing alert boxes in local shops.

More than 90 per cent of residents backed the proposals for the new youth centre and library and the plans for major improvements to Central Park, with a fresh focus on family activities. The creation of the Learning Village was backed by 89 per cent of residents who took part and 86 per cent supported the planned regeneration of the Hilldene shopping area.

Seventy two per cent of residents backed proposals for Whitworth and Broxhill and 63 per cent agreed with the proposals for the limited development of new housing to the Gooshays and Whitworth area, with only 14 per cent disagreeing.

Councillor Michael White, Leader of the Council, said: "Residents have shown an overwhelming support for the majority of the proposals in the Ambitions Plan. This has given us the confidence to move forward to the next stage and start transforming Harold Hill."

Councillor Stephen Kelly, Deputy Leader and Lead Member on the Harold Hill Ambitions Plan, said: "This was one of the most extensive programmes of consultation we have ever undertaken and residents have given the plan their clear backing. These are not only plans for the next couple of years, but a comprehensive programme of regeneration for the next 20 years."

How can I find out more?

Information on the progress of the Harold Hill Ambitions programme will be regularly updated through this website - select the relevant pages using the tabs on the left hand side of this page to find out more.

If you have any questions about Harold Hill Ambitions or would like to get involved, please telephone 01708 43 43 43.