An improved local centre at Pier Parade

The London Borough of Newham and the Homes and Communities Agency have teamed up to bring an improved local centre to Pier Parade and surrounding areas. Our vision is for an active, safe and attractive heart for the community, a place that supports local businesses and a space that residents can use in a variety of ways.

Works will start on site in October/November 2010 and the project will be completed in Spring 2011.

The council has appointed Ringway-Jacobs to carry out the improvement works. There will be some short-term disruption whilst these works are taking place but this will be kept to a minimum. Ringway-Jacobs will provide regular newsletter updates to residents and businesses and an identified point of contact will be available to deal with any issues to do with the works.

We spoke to the local community and asked what they wanted to see as part of this transformation. They wanted to see:

• a flexible and balanced place, providing an active but safe character
• a space which supports local business
• a space capable of hosting events but not dependant on them to function
• a place that discourages anti-social behaviour
• a place which all users can share with defined areas for play
• a place that balances the needs of traffic and people
• expanded playspace for the nursery
• acknowledgement of the history of the area
• more colour
• lighting
• seating
• better parking
• artwork
• maintenance.

See the final design proposals for the area (pdf)

The Themes

1. A flexible space
Pier Parade will become a flexible space allowing for market stalls, outdoor seating at the Café and library and for community events such as festivals and arts performances.

2. Historic character
Your feedback from the consultation workshops suggested incorporating the history of the docks within the plans for the area. This has led to the idea of three sculptural lighting columns based on dock cranes and masts and surface materials will reflect ships decking. (insert image)

3. Play
The play theme is a strong feature of the proposals. Play areas will be created in Roebourne Way and the nursery will have an extended play space. A new multi use sports facility for the Royal Victoria Garden is already up and running.

Parking

A lack of formal parking space has led to cars being parked on pavements, resulting in narrow roads and lack of visibility for pedestrians. The parking strategy aims to create more spaces, increase visibility for pedestrians and balance the needs of both vehicles and pedestrians.

We will improve the situation by:

• extra spaces in existing car park
• delivery bays for businesses
• limited time parking bays for shop users (subject to further consultation)
• disabled parking
• removal of some planters for extra spaces
• removal of seven spaces in front of square
• safer and easier to cross Pier Road
• better for emergency vehicleaccess.
  

View the parking plan (pdf).

For more information

If you would like to contact the council about the technical details of the proposed improvements (e.g. material specifications), please contact:

Asim Zeb on 020 8430 2000 (ext. 33085) or asim.zeb@newham.gov.uk.

Kevin Twyford on 020 8430 2000 (ext. 31182) or kevin.Twyford@newham.gov.uk.

If you would like to speak about the background to the project, the community consultation undertaken, or the wider work, please contact:

Sam Friggens on 020 8430 2000 (ext. 36693) or sam.friggens@newham.gov.uk.