Harold Hill Post Office, in Farnham Road, is no longer at risk of closure and will instead be franchised, the Post Office has confirmed.
This means that either a retail partner or a postmaster could take over the running of the branch – although no further details have been announced yet about who this might be.
A spokesperson for the Post Office said it hopes to complete the franchising by autumn, but that the move is “subject to government funding”.
READ MORE: Harold Hill Post Office: When will a decision on its future be made?
The Harold Hill branch is one of 108 directly managed post offices set to be franchised as part of a major shake-up of the business.
Nigel Railton, Post Office chair, said: “Moving to a fully franchised network is one part of enabling the Post Office to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’, helping to create a long-term, sustainable future for the Post Office.
“Over the coming months, we will continue to work with our unions to ensure that we treat our staff working in these 108 branches with care and respect through this transition, consulting with them on proposed changes.”
Mr Railton added that the branches will either stay in the same location “where possible” or be moved “close to the existing location”.
It was previously feared Harold Hill Post Office would shut permanently, after the business announced in November 2024 that it was “considering the future” of its directly managed branches.
A consultation which ran until March saw Post Office officials meet with trade unions, staff and local stakeholders.
MP for Hornchurch and Upminster Julia Lopez also met with officials and launched a petition as part of her campaign to secure the future of the Harold Hill branch.
Ms Lopez said: “I am so glad that the Post Office has decided not to close its Harold Hill branch.
“This decision reflects the strong support from residents and businesses.
“I will be following discussions on franchising the branch very closely to ensure it continues to serve our community, particularly as the Farnham Road area is developed in the coming years.”
A spokesperson for the Post Office said more details on the franchising plans will be shared with communities and stakeholders in the coming weeks.
