Harold Hill East is one of 169 areas across the UK selected to received up to £20 million in government funding, which aims to build up “long-overlooked” communities.
We spoke to residents who had suggestions for where this money should be spent and multiple people expressed upset with the number of closing shops in the area and said investment should be used to help local businesses.
But just how many shops are out of action in Farnham Road, one of Harold Hill’s busiest commercial streets?
The first empty shop I saw was the former Natwest bank branch in between HH Barbers and St Francis Hospice.
This had a wooden board covering one of the windows and had clearly been out of use for a while.
The branch closed on July 6, 2023.
The previous home of florist Flower Girl remains empty after it relocated only a couple of minutes away in July this year.
One of the most noticeable closed shops was Bargain Town, the large department store intersection of Hilldene Avenue and Farnham Road.
After talking to multiple people, Bargain Town seemed to have closed in late August and was one of the more sorely missed former businesses.
Another empty shop was Havens Hospice, which closed on September 24 and relocated to Collier Row according to a post on the shop’s Facebook page.
It said: “We would like to thank all our customers for their ongoing support and hope to welcome you to our Collier Row shop, located only a short drive from Harold Hill.”
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Tsurai, a Korean and Japanese restaurant and TGF Pizza was one unit that had been sub-divided and both had notices of forfeiture.
Havering Council has confirmed the lease was recently forfeited by the tenant.
F Cooke is believed to be one of the oldest established pie, mash and eel house family businesses around but its Harold Hill branch closed in August this year.
A handwritten sign in the shop window could be seen in the weeks leading up to the closure.
It read: “It is with great sadness that due to the redevelopment of the area F. Cooke Pie & Mash is closing on Saturday, August 23 forever.
“We would like to thank all our customers for the last enjoyable years trading here.”
Directly next door to F Cooke was Funland, a games arcade.
This was also evidently closed with white sheeting put up in the windows.
KB Tuition Centre was also closed with Companies House documenting it as dissolved as of November 2017.
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Your Labels For Less appeared to be closed and did not answer the phone when I tried to make contact although Google says it is open today (October 22).
Axe Granit also appeared to be closed with its metal shutters pulled down.
It seems as though there is another Axe Granit located in Rosemary Road, Wimbledon although it is unclear whether the Harold Hill branch directly relocated.
A Havering Council spokesperson said: “The council is working towards the first phase of the Farnham and Hilldene regeneration programme, which is planned to commence in 2026.
“The project received overwhelming support in the resident ballot undertaken in late 2024.
“Details of the regeneration programme are due to be published following full planning and funding approval in the near future.
“Following extensive consultation with its commercial tenants, the council is assisting those who wish to continue trading to relocate to other units within the Farnham/Hilldene Centre, a number of which have been held vacant for this purpose.”
