WIREDGOV

Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales will 'break ground' on a landmark development in East London later this week.

Sir Robin was joined by Sir Michael Lyons and Bob Lane, who chair the English Cities Fund and London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) respectively at the £180 million Rathbone Market site in Canning Town.

The first phase includes 271 new homes, which will be completed by late summer 2012.  The market will continue to trade during the construction period for the benefit of shoppers and traders. Stallholders have been relocated next to the remaining shops at the Percy Ingle's end of the market, bringing all the stalls and shops together to create a more vibrant market during the works. Developer ECF has appointed contractors Sisk to undertake the work. 

The development is part of the Canning Town & Custom House Regeneration Programme, which aims to transform the area physically, socially and economically to create a sustainable and mixed community, where new and old residents choose to live, work and stay. 

The regeneration programme will deliver more and better new homes, improved and expanded town centres at Canning Town and Custom House, improved links and connections across the A13 and between the bus and rail station as well as better quality streets and investment in infrastructure, services and community facilities.

Sir Robin said: 'This development represents a crucial part of the borough's physical and social regeneration of the borough as we approach the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

'We want our residents to have the same opportunities and aspirations as people living elsewhere in the capital and this project will provide our residents with a living environment of which they can be proud.'

Canning Town and Custom House Programme Director, Helen Fisher, said: 'The regeneration of this area is one of Newham Council's highest priorities. We have been working very hard to secure the future of the project so I'm delighted that our plans to radically transform the area for residents and businesses are coming to fruition.'

LTGDC chairman Bob Lane, said: 'Breaking the ground at Rathbone Market marks the achievement of yet another impressive delivery milestone  in the renewal of Canning Town and Custom House. LTGDC's investments to date in Canning Town's £600 million new town centre and improving pedestrian access by the removal of the Canning Town roundabout is testament to our commitment to transforming an area and ensuring that east London realises its full economic potential.'

Jonathan Martin, HCA head of area for East London, said:  'We're supporting Newham Council's housing and regeneration priorities for the area through our £13.8 million investment in Rathbone Market.  This scheme will make a massive contribution to the entire regeneration of Custom House and Canning Town in an area that has been designated to support housing growth in London well beyond 2012.'

ECF chairman Sir Michael Lyons said: 'English Cities Fund is pleased to be starting this important part of the reshaping of the Rathbone Market site.  It is a good example of the work we were set up to do: creating new homes, shops and high quality public realm by bringing together public and private skills and working creatively with local partners on long term regeneration projects.'

The 680,000sq ft Rathbone Market scheme is one of the first sites to be developed within a wider masterplan framework that sets out a vision for the regeneration of the area. The site is in a prime spot, next to the Canning Town DLR and Underground Station with regular services to Stratford, the Olympic Park, Canary Wharf, the City and the West End.

The Mayor of London and the Homes and Communities Agency provided £13.8 million of funding, with an additional £1.5 million awarded from LTGDC to enable to the scheme to progress.

Work is also underway on improving pedestrian access between Canning Town station and Barking Road, by replacing the Canning Town roundabout with traffic signals and closing the slip roads on the east side.  This work will be completed by April 2011.

Earlier this year, Newham Council selected Bouygues Developments and One Housing Group to re-develop the town centre in Canning Town, including the provision of over 1,000 new homes, shops, leisure facilities, quality public spaces and community spaces. 

Bouygues recently chose Morrisons as the supermarket operator for the site. This development dovetails with the Rathbone Market development, boasting everyday shopping and leisure opportunities and ensuring the environment is attractive to residents both during the day and in the evening.  A planning application for this development will be submitted in March 2011 with a start on site of the first phase in 2012, completed in 2014.

For more details on this press release call Newham Council media officer Mark Mistry on 02033733281 or email mark.mistry@newham.gov.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) is the Government's lead regeneration agency for the Lower Lea Valley and London Riverside, two areas with the greatest potential for growth in London and the Thames Gateway.

English Cities Fund (ECf) was created by the government to identify and break through the barriers to institutional investment and pave the way for higher levels of private investment in the re-shaping of our towns and cities.
ECf aims to show that high-quality, mixed-use area-based regeneration schemes provide viable, attractive and worthwhile opportunities for institutional investors in the medium to long term, alongside lasting community benefits and environmental improvements.

The three partners are Muse Developments, Legal & General and the Homes & Communities Agency.

The Council is also working in partnership with Countryside Properties and Affinity Sutton on behalf of William Sutton Homes, to deliver the first phase of the Fife Road (Area 3) scheme.  The Homes and Community Agency provided £4.22 million funding, matched by a contribution from the council of £2.3 million to enable to the scheme to progress.  The initial phase will provide 139 new homes, of which 102 are for private sale and 37 affordable homes.  These will be the first of an eventual 649 homes in addition to the provision of a new Keir Hardie Primary School.  Pre-enabling works will begin in January 2011, with the main works contract beginning July/August 2011.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England.  Our vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas. 

For more information visit the HCA newsroom