Scenario 2: Brave New Towns
Seven Kings was on the front cover of Time Out this week, heralded as the new Stoke Newington for its eclectic array of multicultural businesses, its nightlife and its diverse local communities. It was a welcome accolade in a Borough where the buzz for most of the past decade has focused on Ilford. While growth has focused on the south of Redbridge, the Council has taken a deliberate policy of spreading new housing, reducing pressure in the wards around Ilford and giving high streets in Gants Hill, Barkingside and Seven Kings more opportunities to regenerate.
Redbridge’s approach has been to enthusiastically grasp the opportunities of growth, but to work alongside residents to ensure that new growth enhances their quality of life. Britain’s departure from the European Union presented a number of challenges for the Borough, and the country as a whole, but a resilient local economy was able to weather the storm and has come through it stronger. Developments in areas like Ilford and Gants Hill have been carefully planned to ensure that residents get the cultural offer, the schools, parks, libraries and clean streets they need. This hasn’t always been easy – there are parts of the community that don’t really want any growth at all – but the end result has been a set of new developments that feel like part of the neighbourhood.
As part of this, local public services have worked closely with residents to find new ways to keep the Borough clean, safe and vibrant. Some communities now run their local parks, others have taken on libraries and a few have even developed their own renewable energy schemes. The proceeds of growth have been used to enhance green spaces, build new schools and support arts and culture. Ilford in particular is gaining a reputation as a destination for young families who want affordable homes with good transport links.
Communities have had a real voice in the future of the High Road, businesses from Ilford Lane and Seven Kings now have a visible and growing presence in the heart of town, and Redbridge is developing a reputation for being distinctively and excitingly diverse as a Borough and local economy.
But this approach has come at a price. The vibrant night time economy has brought with it increased levels of crime and antisocial behaviour, and enforcement services are strained. The Council’s determination to insist on a high level of affordable housing has led to high profile skirmishes with developers, and building around Ilford has been slower than many would have liked. The focus on inclusion means that the Council has not maximised the income it could have made from regeneration.
Just as importantly, by limiting the supply of glitzy new housing, the Borough has failed to maximise the number of affluent young professionals it can attract. This has helped maintain the Borough’s old character, but it means less council tax revenue to fund public services. This matters, because the challenges of being part of London have not abated. While the council has built more of its own homes, and new temporary accommodation units, the new housing has not been enough to addressing spiralling costs in the private rented sector. Combine this with the costs of an ageing population and many of the Borough’s public services remain under huge pressure.
