�It could be boom time in Rainham with a series of developments in the pipeline.

Tesco already has permission for a distribution centre at Beam Reach.

Residents were this week able to get advice about applying for the 900 new jobs at the centre that is due to open in the middle of this year on the A13 at the Marsh Way interchange.

Benefits

Developers Spenhill were appointed to build the 550,000 sq ft distribution and processing centre for the supermarket giant on 35.2 acres.

The development received planning permission from the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation in February last year.

Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas said: “I have been in discussions with Tesco for about a year-and-a-half on their plans for this site.

“The key is to ensure that it is jobs for local people and these discussions are still going on to ensure maximum benefits in the community.

“Given the current economic climate this is one of the biggest job generation sites across London.”

Meanwhile, another area of Beam Park is the subject of a joint proposal by Havering and Barking and Dagenham councils to be turned into a new leisure attraction.

The cabinets of both councils discussed the plans this week. The development could include a retail site, homes and possibly a hotel.

It is believed that a leisure site would boost the business case for a proposed new railway station between Rainham and Dagenham Docks, helping to secure funding for the site.

Havering Council leader Cllr Michael White is backing the idea. He said: “Interest in the Beam Park site from the leisure industry has presented us with a golden opportunity to turn a large and long-vacant site, straddling Dagenham and Rainham, into an exciting leisure attraction that will provide local jobs and put this part of outer London firmly on the map.”

Last week the Recorder revealed plans by the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) to open a new university technical college for 600 students at Marsh Way.