Community Wealth Building

Towards a Better Newham

Our Covid-19 recovery strategy

Our Towards a Better Newham Covid-19 Recovery Strategy (2020-22) made us the first borough in London to use livelihood, well-being and happiness as its prime measure of economic success as part of an ambitious recovery strategy in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The strategy set out the foundation for how the Council responded to the economic impact of Covid-19 as it rebuilds a better Newham. The Towards a Better Newham strategy represented a fundamental shift placing the health and well-being of residents and race equality central to the Council’s aspirations of inclusive growth, quality jobs and fairness in Newham.

Towards a Better Newham has been replaced by Building a Fairer Newham, our new Corporate Plan, which you can view at our Building a Fairer Newham webpage.

The eight pillars of recovery

The strategy, which was supported by an immediate action plan, was built around eight pillars of activity focussed on the phases of recovery and reorientation.

The Council looked at best projects from around the world and came up with a programme of activity, which was genuinely impactful and changed Newham’s economic story.

  • Pillar 1: Our measures of success will be the health, happiness and wellbeing of our residents, rather than growth, productivity and land value.
  • Pillar 2: The Council will ensure every resident under 25 is safe, happy and cared for, with positive activity to secure their long-term wellbeing
  • Pillar 3: The Council will take action to ensure all residents are supported and enabled to access work and other opportunities in the new economy
  • Pillar 4: The Council will make sure our residents are healthy, happy, safe and cared for, to enable them to thrive during times of recession and in the new economy
  • Pillar 5: The Council will enable every resident to live in an accessible and inclusive neighbourhood which will provide all of their social, civic and economic essentials
  • Pillar 6: We will become London’s greenest local economy
  • Pillar 7: The Council will deliver genuinely high-quality and affordable homes for Newham
  • Pillar 8: The Council will only welcome investment that secures a Fair Deal and Good Growth for Newham

Read Towards a Better Newham – Re-orientation and Recovery Strategy (PDF)

Newham Strategic Framework (PDF)

Towards a Better Newham - Pillar Action Plans (PDF)

Corporate Delivery Plan (PDF)

The impact of Towards a Better Newham is outlined in Building a Fairer Newham our new Corporate Plan.