Redbridge’s fight for fair funding pays off with £61.5m Government boost

Published: 20 February 2026 Redbridge Town Hall sign

After years of pressing the Government for a fairer deal for local communities, Redbridge Council’s sustained lobbying has delivered a major breakthrough — securing £61.5m in additional funding over the next three years. This marks the first meaningful shift in more than a decade of underfunding and reflects the borough’s growing population and rising levels of need.

The Council’s draft budget for 2026/27 will be presented to Cabinet on Thursday 26 February, setting out how this improved settlement will help Redbridge manage increasing demand for essential services while continuing to invest in cleaner, greener and safer neighbourhoods.

Despite this progress, the report makes clear that the Council still faces significant financial pressures, driven by inflation, the housing crisis and rising demand for social care.

Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council, said:“For more than a decade, Redbridge has been expected to do more with less, with funding cut while demand for essential services — especially social care, housing and support for our most vulnerable residents — has soared.

“Despite that pressure, we’ve worked relentlessly to protect the frontline services our communities rely on. At a time when many councils across the country have been forced to close libraries and children’s centres, we’ve kept ours open — a direct result of the tough decisions we’ve taken and our determination to shield vital community services.

“We’ve never stopped fighting for fairer funding. We’ve been clear about the historic underinvestment in our borough and persistent in making our case to Government — and that determination is finally paying off.

“We’ve come through some incredibly tough years, but through sustained lobbying and a united push for fairness, we’re now seeing the first real signs of change. For the first time in a long time, there is a genuine glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

“In the past year, ministers have acknowledged the scale of the funding gap councils like ours have been forced to manage. As a result, Redbridge has secured £61.5m in additional grant funding over the next three years — a major win for our community and a testament to the strength of our case.

“But years of underfunding can’t be undone overnight. The £61.5m is spread over three years, which is why we’re continuing to press the Government for further support to bridge the gap and ensure we can keep protecting and investing in frontline services. One of our most pressing priorities is securing funding from the National Infrastructure Fund to replace the Broadmead Road bridge — a critical piece of infrastructure for our borough and a project we will continue to champion at every level of Government.”

For many years, Redbridge has received far less funding per resident than most London boroughs. Since austerity began, the borough has effectively lost £162m in real terms. Even with the new settlement, Redbridge will receive £1,087 per resident — still below the London average of £1,225. Despite this, independent experts consistently rank Redbridge as one of the best value-for-money councils in London.

What extra funding is coming:

The Government’s new “fair funding” reforms will bring £61.5m to Redbridge over the next three years. In 2026/27, the Council’s Core Spending Power will rise to £337.4m — an increase of £32.6m on last year. While this is a significant improvement, it still falls short of the borough’s level of need, and the Council will continue to lobby for a fairer long-term funding deal.

Demand for essential services continues to rise sharply, particularly for residents who need the most support. Major pressures include:

  • Adult Social Care: demand rising by £21m next year
  • Temporary Accommodation: an additional £15m needed due to the housing crisis

To protect frontline services, the Council must continue its savings and efficiency programme.

Alongside managing financial pressures, the Council is continuing to invest in the services that matter most to residents — from cleaner streets and safer neighbourhoods to better housing, strong schools, thriving libraries and improved leisure and cultural facilities. These investments are helping to make Redbridge a better place to live, work and raise a family, and will remain central to the Council’s plans over the next three years.

Major investment in leisure, culture and libraries

Redbridge is investing heavily in leisure, culture and libraries to improve local facilities and create new opportunities for residents. This includes £35m in capital investment, the reopening and improvement of South Woodford Library, Fullwell Cross and the Kenneth More Theatre, as well as plans for new attractions such as a climbing centre, pickleball courts and continued progress on the Valentines Lido. These investments are designed to boost local pride, create jobs and generate income for the borough.

Cleaner streets

Redbridge is continuing to invest in cleaner, greener neighbourhoods, with £1m extra for street cleansing, daily town centre cleaning, weekly residential litter picks and a new Rapid Response Clean Team to tackle issues quickly. The borough is also expanding and improving its green spaces, with 65,000 new trees planted and 25 parks and green areas upgraded since April — creating cleaner, healthier environments for local communities.

Safer communities

Redbridge is strengthening community safety with a £5.5m upgrade to the 24/7 CCTV network, additional Trading Standards officers, and £4m invested in Community Safety and Consumer Protection. The Council is also continuing to fund the award‑winning Reach Out domestic abuse service, ensuring vulnerable residents receive specialist support when they need it most.

Housing

Redbridge is continuing to invest in high‑quality, affordable homes for local people, delivering 102 new Council homes this year and 600 since 2018, while reducing rough sleeping from 37 to 21. The Council is also expanding its housing supply with £67m for new temporary accommodation, £57m for new Council homes, and further growth of the Small Affordable Homes Programme, helping more residents access safe, secure housing.

Financial support

Redbridge is continuing to support residents through cost‑of‑living pressures, with the Welfare Benefits Team helping local people secure £0.9m in additional income this year. From 2026/27, the borough will also benefit from £4.6m a year through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, providing extra help for households facing financial hardship.

Supporting education, families and local businesses

Redbridge is continuing to invest in strong schools, supportive families and a thriving local economy. Ninety‑six per cent of schools are rated Good or Outstanding, and Children’s Social Care has been rated Outstanding, with Education Health Care Plans now issued 12 times faster than last year. The Council is also helping residents and businesses to grow, with 341 local businesses supported, 171 residents starting training or education, and 366 residents receiving careers advice to boost skills and employment opportunities.