Up to 66 new council-owned homes and a new nursery are now being planned by Newham Council for the former Upton Community Centre on Plashet Road in Plaistow. This follows a decision by the council on 14 January to change the original proposals in order for the number of new homes to be increased.
All of these new homes will be at council rent level; previously, the proposal was that half would be shared ownership and half London Affordable Rent (similar to social rent levels).
The earlier proposal also included a community centre for Plashet Road, but this was also revised on 14 January following further engagement with community groups. A flexible new community space will instead be provided at Valetta Grove; this council scheme, which is 1km from Plashet Road, has planning permission for 182 new homes, a new library, gym and new public realm. Community groups who had used the Upton Community Centre will be able to use the proposed new Valetta Grove development, along with other community groups.
A public exhibition will be held at Jeyes Community Centre to give residents a say on the plans and designs for the new homes and nursery at Plashet Road.
Speaking at Cabinet, the Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz, said: “We have a housing crisis and the benefits of the new design are 10 additional council owned homes. All the homes will be at London Affordable Rent rather than the previous 50 per cent shared ownership and 50 per cent London Affordable Rent. The design itself will be better value for money with the provision of a new community centre which will now be moved to Valetta Grove which is just by Plaistow Station.
“When this was first considered under the previous administration, there was a huge amount of community outrage because it was a well loved community space for many community groups located there. There’s been some real diligence through this particular process of recalibrating the Plashet Road development with letters sent out to all those community group who engaged previously.”
