Rainham Launders Lane Smoke and Landfill Fires: 2026 Update

Key Points

• Residents in Rainham reported a strong odour and visible smoke near Launders Lane from around 6am on the morning of the incident
• Many said they kept windows and doors closed due to the smell, with some reporting the odour could be detected indoors even with windows shut.
• Locals described the experience as recurring, saying they routinely check outside for smoke before ventilating their homes.
• The smoke is linked to repeated fires at Arnolds Field, a former landfill site on Launders Lane that has ignited more than 100 times since 2019.
• Campaign group Clean the Air in Havering (also referred to as Clear the Air in Havering) has pursued legal action to have the site designated as contaminated land.
• Following a High Court ruling in June 2025, Havering Council formally designated the site as contaminated in October 2025, triggering legal duties to ensure cleanup.
• Council officials have previously indicated that fully resolving the fires could take up to seven years.

Rainham (East London Times) July 23, 2026 – Residents in parts of Rainham closest to Launders Lane say they woke to a strong smell early this morning after smoke was once again seen rising from the area, prompting fresh concerns about air quality and the safety of opening windows.

What happened in Rainham this morning near Launders Lane?

From around 6am, a number of residents reported noticing what they described as a strong odour coming from outside their homes, with several saying the smell was so noticeable that they chose to keep their windows and doors closed. Some residents told The Havering Daily that before opening their windows each morning, they often feel they need to check outside first to see whether smoke is visible and whether there is a strong smell in the air.

Several residents reported seeing smoke rising from the direction of the Launders Lane area this morning. While there were no obvious flames visible from where they were, they said the smoke was clearly noticeable. Many say that when smoke is present, they feel unable to open their windows to ventilate their homes, and some also reported that the smell can still be detected indoors, even with windows closed.

Others described being woken during the night on previous occasions by strong odours and, on looking outside, seeing what they described as a haze or smoke in the surrounding area.

Residents say the recurring incidents have had a significant impact on their daily lives and continue to cause concern within the community.

One resident said:

“Most people can wake up on a summer’s morning and throw open their windows without a second thought. We don’t feel we can do that. The first thing we do is check outside to see if there’s smoke or a strong smell.”

Why are residents in Rainham concerned about smoke from Launders Lane?

The concerns come as local residents continue to campaign for a long-term resolution to the recurring smoke issues associated with the Launders Lane area, specifically fires at Arnolds Field, a former landfill site.

The landfill has ignited over 100 times in the last five years, releasing noxious smoke that drifts towards neighbouring homes, according to reporting by the BBC and the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

As reported by journalists covering the story for the BBC, residents nearby have reported suffering from stinging eyes and constant coughing, with some saying the smoke has exacerbated illnesses and caused respiratory problems.

Ruth Kettle-Frisby, one of the founders of Clean the Air in Havering, told the BBC that residents have experienced “ongoing coughing, stinging eyes, and irritation,” forcing them to “close all windows during this hot weather.”

What do campaigners and local groups say about the Launders Lane fires?

Campaigners say clean air is a “public right” and “should not depend on where you live,” according to BBC reporting on the campaign group Clean Air in Havering.

The group, made up of three concerned residents and often referred to in media reports as Clean the Air in Havering or Clear the Air in Havering, has pursued legal action to have Arnolds Field designated as contaminated land.

As reported by Mishcon de Reya, which represented the campaign group, the High Court found that Havering Council’s decision not to designate the land as contaminated was unlawful and the decision was quashed. Following that ruling, Havering Council formally designated the land as contaminated in October 2025, meaning the council now has specific legal duties to ensure the site is cleaned up.

Ruth Kettle-Frisby, speaking through Mishcon de Reya, said:

“This is a victory for Rainham residents; an important stepping stone towards justice for children living at the sharp end of this health crisis caused by toxic smoke from relentless fires.”

The group has said that while the legal designation is a decisive victory, it is “not over yet” and they will continue to push until action is taken to clean up Launders Lane.

What has Havering Council said about the Launders Lane landfill fires?

Havering Council has acknowledged the court’s instruction to reconsider its decision on whether Arnolds Field is classified as contaminated land. In public statements quoted by the BBC, council officials noted that they are required to reassess the site following the High Court ruling.

Council representatives have previously indicated that it could take up to seven years to put a stop to the perennially burning rubbish dump in Rainham, according to reporting by Your Thurrock.

The council has issued abatement notices to the landowner in the past and has described a multi-agency response to the fires at Arnolds Field, as outlined on its official website.

How have repeated fires at Arnolds Field affected local schools and public spaces?

The judge in the High Court case recognised the serious impact the site has had, noting 64 fires in one year, sending harmful smoke over nearby homes, a school and a golf course, according to the campaign group’s summary of the ruling shared on social media and reported by ITV News.

Residents have expressed distress as they face “another summer of hell,” with smoke already affecting nearby schools, as quoted by Ruth Kettle-Frisby in BBC coverage.

Local GPs have been cited by campaigners as attributing high levels of respiratory and lung diseases in the area to the landfill site, according to reporting by The Havering Daily on the campaign’s legal claim.

Background: How did the Launders Lane smoke issue develop over time?

Arnolds Field, located on Launders Lane in Rainham, has been used as a landfill site and has caught fire more than 100 times since 2019, according to multiple reports including those by the BBC and LDRS. The combustible nature of the waste means the site ignites in hot weather, releasing smoke that infiltrates nearby residences.

In July 2024, Havering Council opted not to designate the land as contaminated, despite soil analysis suggesting it could contain asbestos, as reported by The Havering Daily.

That decision prompted Clean the Air in Havering to launch a judicial review, which succeeded in June 2025 when Justice Nathalie Lieven ruled the council’s decision “premature and unlawful” and found that the council had misinterpreted the law by neglecting to recognise smoke as a possible contaminant under the contaminated land regulations.

Following that ruling, Havering Council formally designated the site as contaminated in October 2025, triggering specific legal duties to ensure remediation, as confirmed in statements from Mishcon de Reya and the council’s own communications.

Prediction: How could this development affect Rainham residents and the wider Havering community?

The formal designation of Arnolds Field as contaminated land increases the likelihood of enforced cleanup action, which could reduce the frequency of fires and the associated smoke over time, according to legal analysis provided by Mishcon de Reya.

If the relevant person or landowner does not clean up the land, the council can step in and clean up the site itself, potentially leading to fewer incidents of strong odours and visible smoke affecting homes, schools and public spaces.

However, given council statements indicating that a full resolution could take up to seven years, residents may continue to experience intermittent smoke and odour issues in the near to medium term, meaning daily habits such as checking for smoke before opening windows are likely to persist for some time.

For families with children, older residents and people with respiratory conditions, any reduction in smoke frequency and intensity could improve quality of life and reduce health-related complaints, while prolonged delays could maintain pressure on local health services and community wellbeing.