Plans to build a major sports park and library in Harold Hill have moved a step closer.

Work is set to start later this year on creating the new sports park at Broxhill and the library in Hilldene shopping centre as part of the Harold Hill Ambitions Project.

Cllr Steven Kelly. Lead Member for Harold Hill Ambitions said: “We’re putting a fantastic new library right at the heart of the community, which will draw more people to the area, keep it vibrant and build on the great success of Harold Hill Ambitions so far.

“The new sports park will be very special indeed. It’s something really different for the Borough and will bring people together to enjoy sport and have fun in a beautiful setting.”

The sports park is set to include modern facilities that support a wide range of sports throughout the year, as well as community gardens and children’s play activities.

A new state-of-the-art library will also start to take shape this year in the Hilldene shopping centre, to replace the existing library on Hilldene Avenue. The new library will be situated in the eastern arcade, off Farnham Road, within the Hilldene shopping centre and will be significantly bigger than the existing 1950s building and offer much-improved facilities.

The new location will also help to increase the number of people visiting the shopping centre and will encourage local business. It is one of the improvements to be funded from the sale of land at Gooshays, subject to planning procedures.