Station upgrade breathes new life into Gidea Park
Work has now completed on the £1 million regeneration of the areas surrounding Gidea Park Station.
The regeneration, which began in October 2017, has seen a complete overhaul of the look, feel and safety of the station, with new footpaths, road layouts and crossings, and a landscaped pedestrian plaza leading to the main entrance.
The new plaza boasts a well-lit, safe and stylish waiting area providing commuters and the wider community with a more pleasant experience when using the station and surrounding space.
Working with Transport for London (TfL), Havering Council has redeveloped the Crossways junction with a rain garden, which captures rainwater and makes it available for plants as groundwater rather than flowing through street drains.
This can cut down on the amount of pollution reaching local creeks and streams considerably whilst reducing Council costs to maintain the drains.
The Gidea Park rain garden will also help to attract wildlife, such as birds, insects and butterflies, whilst carefully selected planting will improve air quality, enhancing the local biodiversity of the area.
Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said:
“I am pleased to see the Gidea Park station redevelopment is now completed. It has not only improved the look and safety of the station, but has breathed new life into Gidea Park, creating new community spaces for residents to enjoy.”
Sam Monck, TfL’s Head of Network Sponsorship, said:
“Enabling more people to walk, cycle and use public transport is vital if we are to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing London, such as our toxic air and global climate change.
“We’re working to transform streets around Elizabeth line stations across London ahead of its arrival and these upgrades at Gidea Park will make a real difference to the people who move through the area every day, making it a much more pleasant place for the whole community.”
The upcoming Elizabeth line has also led to Gidea Park being a haven for first-time buyers. According to a study from Hamptons International, first-time buyers bought more than 50 percent of homes sold in Gidea Park in 2018.
The improvement works on the Crossways, both station entrances, and the plaza Station Road, was carried out by Marlborough Highways Ltd on behalf of Havering Council.