Big boost for Ilford with more funding for city centre

Plans to create an “Ilford for All” and make the town centre a modern, thriving East London hub have taken a further step forward with an extra £500,000 grant from the Greater London Authority (GLA).

The money will support Redbridge Council’s plans to create a Cultural Quarter, revitalising the town centre by bringing art and industry together to generate economic activity and creativity, support artists and entrepreneurs, and revive empty retail spaces and creating more opportunities for work and leisure.

Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, said: “This additional funding will support our plans to transform Ilford town centre into a thriving shopping and socialising hub for local people to visit and enjoy. We want to work with local communities, residents and businesses to revitalise the area, making it greener, cleaner and more sustainable, with beautiful town squares, public art and exciting local shops.”

The additional money follows an earlier grant of £1.8 million from the GLA and will be used to:

• improve public spaces, with new paving, lighting and greenery
• enhance accessibility into and around Ilford through lighting and art
• creatively make use of empty spaces for pop-ups, like new shops, children’s play areas or spaces for community groups to use

Although some of the planned regeneration work was halted by the coronavirus pandemic, progress has been made, including:

• Space Studios, a hub for local artists to create and display their artwork, celebrated their first year in residence at Ilford Town Hall
• completion of the new Ilford Station Southern Entrance in preparedness for Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) arriving in 2022
• work has commenced on the installation of the timber frame for the Mercato Metropolitano outdoor food and drinks market
• the ongoing transformation of Ilford High Street, including new paving and lighting

The new station entrance will be opened once lockdown restrictions are eased, it is anticipated that the new market will open late summer 2021, and the new High Street paving will be completed by the autumn.

Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council, and Cabinet Member for Finance, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Kam Rai, said:  “We’re investing in our town centre, making it more accessible, greener and safer through family-friendly innovations, like the new hop-scotch and art studios. We’ll continue to build on this work, finishing off the new paving, working with businesses, entrepreneurs and local people to make the most of empty shopping spaces and organising fun interactive activities for local children. 

"One project I’m particularly looking forward to is the introduction of new public art around the Town Hall, which will brighten up the area and hopefully inspire new generations of local artists.”