Havering Council Land Disposal: Site Status in Havering 2026

Key Points

• Financial Strategy: Havering Council identified parcels of land at Priory Road, Gays Field, and Bedale Road/Tiverton Road for potential disposal to support its broader capital receipts plan.
• Target Receipts: A council scrutiny meeting in July 2024 outlined an objective to generate approximately £10 million annually through the strategic asset disposal programme.
• Cabinet Decisions: Cabinet members previously considered specific proposals in August 2023 concerning Gays Field (Jubilee Close, Romford) and Bedale Road/Tiverton Road (Harold Hill) to progress disposal and planning steps.
• Varied Progress: Inclusion within the disposal programme does not constitute an immediate sale or an approved housing scheme; each parcel remains at a distinct stage of evaluation.

Havering, Romford (East London Times) October 12, 2026 – Havering London Borough Council continues to evaluate key municipal land parcels—specifically Priory Road, Gays Field, and Bedale Road/Tiverton Road—under its ongoing strategic asset disposal programme aimed at generating vital capital receipts. The local authority previously identified these locations as potential candidates for sale or transfer, with residential development highlighted as a possible future use for select plots. However, municipal progress across the sites remains varied, and inclusion within the disposal register does not signify that completed sales or formal planning permissions have been secured.

Which Sites Are Included in Havering Council’s Land Disposal Strategy?

The local authority’s capital strategy relies upon the systematic review of underutilised or surplus real estate across the borough. Among the primary sites identified for potential transaction are Gays Field, located off Jubilee Close in Romford, and land situated at the junction of Bedale Road and Tiverton Road in Harold Hill. Furthermore, land at Priory Road has been designated within wider municipal reviews assessing surplus assets suitable for generating capital.

The primary objective driving these assessments is the necessity to shore up local municipal finances. By bringing forward suitable land parcels for disposal or residential development, the council seeks to optimize its property portfolio while balancing community infrastructure requirements against pressuring financial demands.

How Does the Asset Disposal Programme Support Council Finances?

The financial framework underpinning the property review was detailed during a formal council scrutiny meeting in July 2024. During this session, elected members and officers heard that the asset disposal programme was structured with an ambition to generate approximately £10 million per year in capital receipts.

Capital receipts generated through such property transactions provide essential funds that can be reinvested into major infrastructure projects, regeneration schemes, or used to reduce municipal borrowing requirements. Given the wider financial challenges faced by local government authorities across the United Kingdom, the regular realization of value from surplus land remains a core component of Havering’s medium-term financial plan.

What Decisions Were Made Regarding Gays Field and Bedale Road in August 2023?

Formal movement regarding specific plots was recorded during a Cabinet meeting in August 2023. Executive members considered dedicated proposals involving the Gays Field plot at Jubilee Close, Romford, alongside the Bedale Road/Tiverton Road site in Harold Hill.

The Cabinet agreed to advance these sites through initial disposal processes and necessary planning-related assessments. These initial approvals served as authorization for officers to undertake preliminary site studies, explore potential development parameters, and initiate the administrative procedures required prior to bringing land to the open market or transferring it to public development partners.

What Are the Next Steps for the Identified Sites and Surrounding Countryside?

Despite their inclusion in published council programmes, the sites are progressing at differing speeds, and their ultimate future remains subject to regulatory and market factors. Municipal guidelines dictate that inclusion within an asset disposal list does not automatically lead to an immediate sale, nor does it guarantee that planning consent for housing will be granted.

Will Housing Development Be Approved on All Disposed Land?

Housing remains one of several potential outcomes for the earmarked sites, particularly where land sits within existing residential footprints. However, any proposed change of use or construction project must undergo standard statutory planning processes, including public consultations, environmental impact assessments, and formal determinations by the planning committee.

How Could Disposal Impact Local Residents and Nearby Green Spaces?

The prospective development or sale of council-owned land frequently raises questions among surrounding communities regarding loss of open space, pressure on local infrastructure, and the preservation of adjacent countryside. For sites near established residential streets or green corridors, subsequent planning applications will need to evaluate the balance between delivering new housing and maintaining local amenities.

Background of the Havering Asset Disposal Strategy

Local authorities across England have increasingly turned to strategic asset management to address structural budget deficits and funding gaps. Under the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent capital finance frameworks, councils possess the legal power to dispose of land and property in any manner they see fit, provided they achieve the best consideration reasonably obtainable, unless statutory consent for a discount is granted.

In Havering, the formal acceleration of property disposals followed sustained pressures on social care budgets, housing demand, and reduced central government grant allocations. Over successive financial years, the borough established a rolling review of municipal assets, categorizing operational properties, commercial holdings, and vacant land. Sites identified as surplus to operational requirements were compiled into a centralized disposal pipeline managed by the council’s property services team.

The July 2024 scrutiny review reaffirmed the £10 million annual capital receipt target as a crucial pillar in balancing the authority’s capital program. However, local land disposals in urban and suburban settings like Romford and Harold Hill often require complex preliminary work, including legal title clearances, highways assessments, environmental surveys, and public consultation, leading to lengthy timelines between initial Cabinet authorization and eventual site handover.

Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Local Residents and the Borough?

The ongoing execution of Havering Council’s asset disposal programme is expected to yield both structural and localized effects across the borough over the medium term.

• Impact on Local Residents: Homeowners and tenants residing near Jubilee Close, Bedale Road, Tiverton Road, and Priory Road are likely to experience a prolonged period of planning uncertainty while sites transition from initial disposal lists to formal planning submissions. If residential developments are ultimately approved, nearby residents may face temporary disruptions associated with construction activity, followed by permanent changes to local traffic patterns, street parking demand, and neighborhood density. Conversely, well-designed developments could lead to improvements in public realm aesthetics and modern housing availability.
• Impact on Council Taxpayers and Services: Successful land sales generating the targeted £10 million annual capital receipts will directly assist the council in stabilizing its balance sheet. This financial yield may help shield essential public services from deeper expenditure cuts and reduce reliance on expensive short-term municipal borrowing.
• Impact on the Surrounding Countryside and Urban Planning: As the council balances asset monetization against environmental stewardship, land disposals near urban fringes will place increased emphasis on local planning policies. The strict statutory planning process will determine the extent to which green borders and open spaces are preserved, ensuring that future housing delivery does not unacceptably degrade the local environment.