It comes after an environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening opinion was submitted to Havering Council at the start of the month concerning a potential major redevelopment to include The Liberty Shopping Centre.
Whilst a formal planning application has yet to be submitted by owner Redical Ltd, a future application could seek approval for the “redevelopment of the site of up to 1,000 residential units, with 10,350m2 (GIA) of additional commercial space”.
It is understood that the development would “retain and enhance the main core of the existing Liberty Shopping Centre”, whilst also introducing further public realm improvements and blue badge parking.
The outlined site includes The Liberty Shopping Centre, car parks, and “partially vacant” retail units in Market Place, as well “vacant office building” Mercury House.
According to Trium Environmental Consulting LLP, writing on behalf of Redical Ltd, the redevelopment would see the site split into three plots.
A partial demolition of existing structures if planned for Plot 1, making way for three blocks comprising of around 399 residential units.
Around 145 residential units are planned for Plot 2 located in the north parcel of the site, with 128 planned for Plot 3 to the west.
The properties are expected to be proposed to be spread across two to three residential buildings.
Up to seven car parks have been identified within the site boundary on maps provided by the applicant.
‘Car park 1’ of around 18 marked spaces, ‘car park 2’ comprising of 88 marked bays and a motorcycle rank of six spaces, and ‘car park 3’ formed of 22 spaces are planned to be demolished.
However, it is understood that additional car parks could be displaced and redeveloped.
Trium Environmental Consulting LLP wrote: “According to the operators of The Liberty, much of the existing car parking is unused and some spaces are used without permission.
“Therefore, the removal of the existing parking is considered acceptable given the inherent sustainable location of the Site and access to a wealth of public transport connections.”
According to a spokesperson for The Liberty, the car parks that could be lost to the development are not in public use.
They said: “No public carparks will be demolished in the proposals.
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“Those carparks that are earmarked for redevelopment are currently used only by contractors, whom we will look to provide parking elsewhere, or are not in use.
“We believe the space they occupy could serve a much better purpose to the benefit of the town centre.”
Documents accompanying the request have hinted at the potential to bring back into use an “additional unused car park” at the centre of the site, which has capacity for 160 spaces.
