Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment, introduced the report

The report reviewed the development opportunity at the Beam Park site in Rainham and South Dagenham in the light of market interest in the comprehensive redevelopment of the site for a strategic leisure-led project, instead of the residential-led approach contained in the existing planning policies for the site.

The report recognised that strategically significant leisure proposals, in conjunction with transport improvements and further appropriate development, could create high levels of new employment and provide the essential catalyst to secure regeneration and deliver growth in the wider area. 

Staff had prepared a Planning Prospectus jointly with LB Barking & Dagenham and in consultation with the Greater London Authority and the site owners, the London Development Agency.  The prospectus described the development opportunity; the reasons why the boroughs wished to consider a leisure-led redevelopment; the planning benefits the boroughs wished to see delivered and a summary of planning and transport requirements. 

Cabinet was asked to approve the publication of the Beam Park Planning Prospectus as guidance for potential developers.

Reasons for the decision:

There was an opportunity to capitalise on market and development interest in strategically significant leisure proposals which, in conjunction with transport improvements and further appropriate development, could create high levels of new employment and provide the essential catalyst to secure regeneration and deliver growth in the wider Rainham and South Dagenham area. 

Other options considered:

The alternative was to continue to promote the existing planning policy of housing-led regeneration of Beam Park, however the complexity and cost of acquiring and redeveloping the existing industrial and commercial sites in the context of residential property values and the need for public transport improvements would make it unlikely that housing schemes of an acceptable form and density would be feasible in current conditions.

Cabinet APPROVED the Beam Park Planning Prospectus for use as guidance for potential developers.