A children’s centre in Harold Hill that was shut since 2020, has now been approved to close permanently.

Chippenham Road children's centre was recommended for closure in the council’s 2023-24 budget setting report, after services were stopped at the site due to Covid restrictions.

The services previously delivered at the centre were instead moved to Ingrebourne children’s centre, that is approximately a mile away.

A cabinet meeting held on Wednesday (December 13) discussed and approved the plans to repurpose the Chippenham Road centre and close it for good.

The move will reportedly reduce the council’s spend on children’s social care by around £46,500 a year. The centre occupied a council-owned commercial property that could also be re-let to other tenants at market rates.

However, these savings will be offset by a reduction of £38,500 in rental income to property services until the council finds another taker for the site.

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Questions were raised at the meeting about provision of children’s services at the location, as the area is earmarked for the second phase of the Harold Hill regeneration project.

The Chippenham Road development will have 15 homes built after demolishing some existing buildings next to the Farnham and Hilldene shopping area.

Additionally, in the first phase of transforming Harold Hill town centre, Abercrombie House, a former hostel for homeless people, was bulldozed to make way for a Family Welcome Centre.

Councillor Keith Darvill of Heaton Ward said at the meeting: “Because we have lots of new homes and more children coming through in the foreseeable future, I do think the regeneration should consider a provision of children’s centre."

A council report suggested that Ingrebourne Children’s Centre has seen a “sustained increase” in footfall over the last three years, with a 16% projected rise in this financial year.

Havering is also one of the fastest growing regions in children’s population in the country.

However, when a consultation for the closure was carried out by the council between October and December 2022, 69% of people reportedly said the proposal will not affect them.

Neil Stubbings, Havering's strategic director of place, said the council is looking at two ways to provide additional services.

When the Family Welcome Centre is built, he said, there will be a health centre included in the plans and he hopes that a part of it could be used for social care and children’s services.  

He added: “We are also engaging with colleagues in children's services to see whether or not there might be need for further buildings.

“There will be plenty of space on the ground floor (of proposed health centre), should that be needed at the time."