LDA gets go ahead for new community centre in Newham

The London Development Agency (LDA) will begin work on a community centre in Newham after its planning application was approved.

The new building will provide 500 sq m of recreational space and will include a shared garden with the existing Chandos Road Community Centre. It will also feature a new play area, two separate gardens for pre school and school children, a training room, a computer room and a café.

The building will have a string of environmentally friendly features such as a ground source heat pump, rainwater harvesting and terracotta self insulating brick work to retain heat.

The new centre will replace Newtown Community Centre in Major Road which made way for a new Travellers site called Parkway Crescent for families having to relocate from the Olympic Park. A large temporary community centre has been built as an interim replacement and it will remain in use until the new centre is opened in winter 2009.

It is part of more than £2 million being invested in Chandos Road, Major Road and the surrounding areas to improve community facilities.

Andrew Gaskell, Senior Development Manager at the LDA, said: "We are committed to ensuring that the 2012 Games will improve people’s lives and the new centre will be a valuable resource in bringing families and neighbours together.

"The building has been designed to high environmental standards. It will conserve energy and save money in the long run."

Newham Council will run the building when completed.

Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said: "We are using the Games to improve this borough for the better before, during and after 2012. This centre, and other proposed improvements for the area, is an important part of the legacy planning."

Other improvements the LDA is making to the area include:

• Granted £360,000 to London Borough of Newham to improve existing open space in the vicinity of the Major Road area.
• Making landscaping improvements to the Chandos Road open space.
• Granting £95,200 to contribute to traffic calming measures in Major Road / Leyton Road area.
• Given £77,500 to Newham Council to appoint a community liaison officer for no less than two years.

The LDA has been consulting with community centre users and Newham Council over the past 12 months about the new centre. This has been in addition to community drop in sessions.

Ends

For media enquiries, please contact Andreas Christophorou at the LDA Media Team on 020 7593 8444. andreaschristophorou@lda.gov.uk.com. For public enquiries, please call 020 7593 9000. 
 

Notes to Editors:

1. The London Development Agency works to improve quality of life for all Londoners and drive sustainable economic growth.
2. The Traveller Families moved from Clays Lane to Major Road in October 2007. The LDA built the new travellers site and supported 15 families to relocate. It is owned and run by Newham Council.
3. The planning decision is currently with the Government Office for London for approval.