The most “ambitious” plan in the council’s history is well under way with proposals to transform sites across the borough.

Romford Recorder: Napier House and New Plymouth HouseNapier House and New Plymouth House (Image: Archant)

Havering Council is launching its £1billion Housing Regeneration Programme which will see 3,500 new homes built over the next 15 years in a bid to tackle the anticipated increase in the borough’s housing target.

Deputy leader and cabinet member for housing Cllr Damian White said: “There has been extensive consultation with tenants, leaseholders and freeholders in the 12 areas being regenerated and that has seen strong support for the programme to provide modern homes that are energy and cost efficient.”

Two of the sites earmarked are Royal Jubilee Court, Main Road, Gidea Park, which could be partially demolished to create 150 flats for an Older Person’s Village and the Maygreen and Park Lane Estate, Hornchurch, which could see building work start on 200 new homes by 2019.

The Recorder highlighted the issues residents of Napier House and New Plymouth House, Rainham, were facing last year, including the cold temperatures caused by the single-glazed windows, and the broken down lifts.

After hundreds campaigned for the two blocks of flats left from the Mardyke Estate to be either renovated or demolished, residents were starting to be moved out of the buildings in January in preparation for them to be knocked down.

The blocks of flats are due to be demolished in 2018.

The council is seeking to form a joint venture partnership with a housing developer “committed to building high quality homes” to deliver the programme.

Savills, a global real estate services provider, is working with the local authority, helping to choose its joint venture development partner.

Cllr White said: “We are currently meeting with major development companies interested in working with us to deliver this programme.

“We aim to have identified the right partner, to be an equal partner in a new joint venture company which will deliver these new homes, by the end of this year so work can start on site in late 2018.”