From shared living to a replacement mosque and a major town centre redevelopment revolving around one of the town’s three shopping centres, there are big plans in the pipeline.
Atik Romford
Atik was thrown back into headlines last month after a consultation was held to discuss the future of the disused venue.
The former nightclub, originally a cinema, opened in South Street in 2018 under parent company Rekom UK.
It survived until February 2024 when it was forced to close after Rekom UK was unable to reach a lease agreement with the landlord.
On September 12 and 13, the community was welcomed by Urban Sketch and Legendre UK to take part in the ‘Havana Close’ consultation inside Romford Shopping Hall.
A website set up in connection to the consultation has revealed that 290 homes are proposed for the old Atik venue, all of which would be single and double occupancy studio flats.
The consultation has also made mention to plans for shared living spaces to include a kitchen and dining area, cinema, gym, library, and three external terraces.
Homebase Romford
New homes are also proposed to replace the former Homebase store in Davidson Way.
The Romford branch closed down in January after the administration process was launched for the company in November 24.
It was one of 13 stores not to be saved in administration deals.
Now, Havering Council has been asked to assess the need for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of plans to demolish and redevelop the site into up to 600 residential homes.
The prospective homes, alongside 400sqm of commercial floorspace, would be split across three 16-storey blocks.
The provision of “school facilities” and green public open space has been mentioned in documents accompanying the request for the screening opinion.
Havering Council is set to have made its decision by October 16.
The Liberty Romford
Also under screening opinion consideration are plans for a major redevelopment in Romford’s town centre.
This paper revealed last week the request made by Redical Ltd, owners of The Liberty Shopping Centre, in connection to potential plans for a 1,000 home project.
Whilst a formal planning application has yet to be submitted, The Liberty has been recognised as a possible site for the redevelopment.
The “core” of the shopping centre would be maintained and enhanced, with Redical proposing for the addition of commercial space alongside new homes.
Unused commercial car parking would be demolished with an estimated net loss of commercial and retail floor space of 8,648sqm.
South Street, Romford mosque
In South Street, conversations are understood to be ongoing between Havering Council and leaders of a mosque.
Havering Islamic Cultural Centre (HICC) has been registered to premises in Waterloo Road since 1982, but has been considering a replacement premises in light of the Bridge Close development plans.
READ MORE: ‘Unused’ car parks to be demolished as part of 1,000 home plans in Romford
After Havering Council made the compulsory purchase order of the current premises, they have been engaging in discussions concerning a larger replacement mosque being developed at 222-226 South Street.
The new premises would be called Havering Mosque, with its website stating that it estimates a “formal planning consent decision early next year (2026)” after “the fundamental aspects of the mosque have been approved”.
It is understood the replacement mosque could facilitate more than 1,000 worshippers, with provisions discussed for improved “essential food bank and soup kitchen services”.
