Newham secures £20m for Little Ilford through a 10-year Pride in Place programme, supporting resident-led improvements, stronger communities, and thriving local high streets.
Newham Council is pleased to announce that Little Ilford East will benefit from a 10-year, £20 million Government investment programme designed to empower neighbourhoods to take the lead in shaping local priorities and improvements.
As this next phase of long-term investment begins, Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, said: “This decade-spanning funding gives us the opportunity to continue working with residents so that they are at the heart of improvements happening in their neighbourhoods. By building on the work already delivered in Little Ilford ward, I’m thrilled we have secured the funding to sustain lasting improvements that will strengthen community pride and improve local spaces and high streets. This will ensure everyone has access to the services and opportunities they deserve from now until 2036. This isn't just about infrastructure; it’s about a ten-year promise to the people of Little Ilford that they will have the power, the resources, and the agency to shape a fairer, more prosperous home for generations to come.”
The investment is part of a major expansion of the government’s flagship Pride in Place Programme, which is being extended to include an additional 169 communities across the UK. Following an announcement by the Prime Minister in February 2026, Little Ilford in Newham was selected as one of 40 additional places to receive this dedicated £20 million support.
Sir Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, said: "This is great news for Little Ilford, and it's not just a flash in the pan. Over the next ten years, we can look forward to real, lasting improvements in the area."
The £20 million Pride in Place investment for Little Ilford is a significant milestone for Newham’s nationally recognised inclusive growth agenda. It reflects the Council’s commitment to deep-rooted participatory democracy, exemplified by the award-winning People Powered Places initiative, one of the UK’s largest participatory budgeting programme.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE added: “Since 2018, we have been relentless in our mission to drive investment into every corner of our borough, ensuring that people are at the heart of what we do and that no community is ever left behind. This funding is a watershed moment; it allows us to evolve from delivering vital one-off projects to a transformative, decade-long model of resident-led, place-based regeneration. When I look ahead to Little Ilford in 2036, I see a neighbourhood that stands as a national
beacon for inclusive growth. I see a ward where our 'People Powered' approach has matured into a way of life, and where thriving high streets and world-class community assets are the result of residents ‘holding the pen’ on their own future.”
The new investment builds upon a strong foundation of over £1.6 million of improvements already delivered in Little Ilford through the Council's Neighbourhood Investment programme. Recent successes include the refurbished Jack Cornwell Centre, which provides an inclusive community hub; new play provision and enhanced green spaces for families; and improved alleyways to ensure safer connectivity.
The funding will also bolster Newham’s Town Centre and High Streets Strategy, ensuring that Romford Road, Church Road, and Little Ilford Lane remain vibrant, inclusive hubs where local businesses thrive, and every resident feels they belong.
The Council will soon share further details on how residents, community organisations, and local partners can get involved. In line with the government’s Pride in Place requirements, the Council will establish a dedicated Little Ilford Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board. Comprising local community, voluntary, faith, and business representatives, alongside Council officers, the local MP, and a ward councillor, the Board will co-design a 10-year vision for Little Ilford and oversee the delivery of projects that respond directly to local needs.
