Havering Council is hoping to regenerate Elm Park with the help of London Mayor Boris Johnson.

The council has already provisionally been earmarked for funding through the mayor’s Outer London Fund for Rainham and Hornchurch in round one of the fund.

The fund is for councils on the outskirts of London to regenerate their towns. To be in with a chance of getting funding the bid must have a plan to support its high street, plans for economic growth, increase the cultural activities in the area, but not be in line for Crossrail investment in the future.

As part of the plans Hornchurch will receive �225,000 and Rainham will receive �220,000 for planned activities for the community and to support the local high street.

A similar bid for Romford was turned down, because it will be benefitting from a Crossrail station in the future.

But after advice from the Greater London Authority the cabinet committee has agreed to submit a proposal for Elm Park in round two of the bidding stage.

The officer’s report said: “The mayor will choose places that deserve this support the most, where there is local enthusiasm and the desire to work together.

“The mayor is particularly keen to support projects that embrace collaboration with the community, creative, cultural and business groups, both local and London-wide.”

Cllr Robert Benham told the committee last Wednesday: “We could secure �3 million for the borough with Hornchurch, Rainham and Elm Park.

“Elm Park is a continuation of the Hornchurch plans. We have looked at what the borough looks like and the regenerations possibilities.”

A council officer said during the cabinet meeting: “We are very positive about the bids we submitted. We received strong advice to put in a bid for Romford again, but we welcomed putting in something new like the Elm Park bid, but of course it is a very competitive process.”