A quarter of residents identified affordable decent housing for all as an area that most needs improving in the 2007 Residents’ Survey. 

In response:

• An increase of £2.5 million in Housing Corporation funding was secured, bringing the total amount to £16.9 million, to deliver additional affordable housing over the next two years.
• 287 empty properties were returned to use through a £564,000 investment from the East London Housing Partnership, in excess of our target of 190.
• 400 families who were homeless or threatened with homelessness received help and advice to find housing, an increase of 51 from the previous year.

However there is still more to do:

222 new affordable homes were made available in Redbridge in 2007/08, which fell short of our target of 400.

Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of residents identified sports and leisure activities for all ages as an area most in need of improvement in the Borough. Working in partnership with Vision - Redbridge Culture and Leisure Ltd, a newly established trust operating and managing leisure activities within Redbridge, a range of improvements to the area were achieved:

• Ashton Playing Fields athletics track was refurbished and upgraded.
• Cricklefields athletic track was upgraded.
• An additional £1.375 million in Growth Area Funding was secured to redevelop Fairlop Waters, to provide new leisure facilities and develop and outdoor pursuit centre.
• Phase I of the Redbridge Cycling Centre, a modern, state-of-the-art cycling facility, was opened, built by the London Development Agency at a cost of £4.5 million.

Resident satisfaction with a range of cultural facilities and services in Redbridge increased over the previous year. To further improve provision:

• A new library was opened in Clayhall.
• A £2 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant was secured for the restoration of Valentines Mansion.
• A new theatre scheme was approved by the Cabinet.
• A Public Art Officer was appointed.
• Redbridge was awarded a £50,000 grant for the Arts Point Blank Project.