The My Heathway project headed by Be First, Barking & Dagenham Council’s regeneration arm, will go before the public in a consultation on December 6 and December 8.
According to a website set up for the regeneration scheme, it will offer the community a chance to see for themselves the early plans for the first stage of My Heathway.
The consultations will be the first public engagement tied to the project since the community was previously encouraged to share feedback via surveys, events and more on initial discussions between late 2022 and the end of 2023.
The project promises both short and long term change to Heathway, with a vision to “make Dagenham Heathway a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable centre – shaped by local people”.
Key takeaways from public feedback so far include more activities, places to come together, a wider food offer and a healthier environment.
Data provided by the scheme has revealed that by 6pm on a weekday Heathway has already attracted 84 per cent of the day’s footfall.
Evenings bring just 16 per cent footfall to the high street.
In terms of food offerings, just 9pc of Heathway’s use class floorspace is for food and beverage, and 5pc of these are hot food takeaways.
A timeline for the project will see various phases introduced over an estimated 15 years, with the first changes bringing “activities and temporary new uses, street improvements, and planning applications for Dagenham Heathway Shopping Centre”.
Later down the line, it is expected that the area will see further development of the shopping centre, alongside new homes, shops, and shop improvements.
Updated consultation boards will be available to see between 10am and 4pm on December 6, and from 10am to 6pm on December 8 from the My Heathway shop in Heathway Shopping Centre.
A flyer shared online for the consultation has revealed the consultation is for a “planning application”, though further details have yet to be revealed at this stage.
A document available on the My Heathway website has shared details of plans for Dagenham Heathway cycleways and street improvements.
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Key details of these plans include an informal crossing on Heathway to encourage road safety, the planting of greenery in Heathway Gardens to “improve its appearance”, and cycle lanes.
According to the document, the proposed changes to Heathway Gardens can “double up” as an area for events, market stalls and performances.
Other considerations include improved crossings near the station and at junctions with countdown timers, improved lighting, and efforts to improve bus reliability with road re-assignment and re-timing traffic lights.
