Defence Online

Red Door Ventures has submitted a planning application to create 185 homes for private rent and a café/restaurant at the Town Hall Annexe in East Ham.Built in 1939, the Town Hall Annexe is a three storey building fronting Barking Road, which originally formed part of a complex for East Ham Urban District Council and falls within the East Ham Conservation area.The building is still in use as a council office, but like many office buildings of its era, it is difficult to maintain and adapt to modern standards.The proposals involve retaining the original Town Hall Annexe building and extending onto its roof, with further development to the rear of the site. The 185 new homes will range from studio apartments to three-bedroom apartments, all with private balconies.There is also potential for a new café and the scheme will include a communal courtyard garden between the buildings, landscaping and children’s play space. Roof terraces above the new buildings will form additional communal amenity space for residents. The new private rented sector residential units will contribute towards Red Door Ventures’ objective to improve the quality of private rented sector housing in Newham to the benefit of residents, particularly young professionals, couples and small families. Red Door will also provide affordable family housing in nearby locations as part of its planning agreement with the council.The development, which is located in the town centre, will be car free, with the provision for blue badge parking spaces, and 238 cycle spaces will be provided for the residential accommodation within secure rooms in the development. There will be an additional seven visitor cycle spaces within the rear courtyard and five secure cycle spaces for café users.