Yesterday (October 16), the second consultation was launched from The Liberty regarding plans for its redevelopment.
Plans were first put in front of the community in May, with a screening opinion request entered to Havering Council in September to determine if an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required.
Redical Ltd, which acquired ownership of The Liberty in 2022, has been working alongside its development partner HUB to progress the plans.
Around 14 consultation boards were set up in the middle of The Liberty, providing graphics and details of the 700 to 800 home redevelopment scheme.
The homes would be split between three phases across three blocks, all ranging between one and three-bed properties.
Four-hundred of these properties would be provided from residential development on plot one.
According to one of the consultation boards, 62 per cent of responses to the scheme so far have been “broadly positive about the vision and emerging designs”.
Some details are still under discussion, such as materials for example.
The main core of the shopping centre would be retained, with advisors at the event describing this to be the area of the shopping centre under the glass roof.
This includes the stretch where JD, Black Sheep Coffee, Pandora and more shops are located.
Redical has new visions for the entrance to The Liberty from Western Road, with CGI images displaying potential changes.
From the current Western Road entrance up to the start of the Pret premises, new public domain is proposed along with a new, further set back entrance to The Liberty diagonally across from the cafe.
Either side of the widened public space, new shop space would be provided to the ground floor with residential properties built above.
The tallest building proposed in the scheme would be block B, a “landmark” build reaching 25 storeys, with 13 storeys planned for block C and between five and ten for block A.
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Statistics on the boards revealed estimated levels of employment and expenditure linked to the redevelopment.
During the works, up to 1,120 on-site jobs could be produced per year, with 370 estimated per year for those in supply chain roles.
New retail and food space could see 265 on site jobs introduced to the area, with the changes expected to bring in around £3.6 million in annual expenditure by households.
