Redical Ltd, which owns The Liberty shopping centre, and developer HUB Living is seeking permission from Havering Council to redevelop a site including the shopping centre, unused car parking facilities, and empty shops.
They initially hoped to build 1,000 homes and create 10,350sq m of extra commercial space, as well as public realm improvements, landscaping and provision of blue badge parking – but the number was brought down to 800.
Plans for 400 homes on the first of three plots are due to go before the council’s strategic planning committee on Thursday (October 23), for changes to be reviewed before a formal planning application is made.
Schemes for the second and third plots are due to be considered for outline planning consent.
Inside The Liberty consultation held this month(Image: Newsquest)
A second public consultation was held inside the shopping centre last week, with 14 boards displaying computer-generated images of how the scheme would look.
According to the consultation details, between 700 and 800 new homes would be built, with the first set proposed on plot one, which fronts along Western Road.
Three blocks of flats would deliver 400 new homes on this plot, alongside new retail space, food and drink businesses and public space. The largest of these could reach a “landmark” 25 storeys.
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The proposed redevelopment of The Liberty is still at pre-application stage, with a request for a screening opinion entered to Havering Council, and pre-application plans put before the Quality Review Panel – independent experts tasked with improving the designs of buildings and places for the public – in August.
Havering Council has revealed that the scheme is now “markedly different” to the one first presented to the panel, meaning some feedback and comments may no longer be relevant.
Comments produced from the strategic planning committee meeting will be incorporated into the scheme before a formal planning application is submitted.
