London Borough of Havering

Coordinates: 51°33′N 00°13′E / 51.550°N 0.217°E / 51.550; 0.217
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

London Borough of Havering
Coat of arms of London Borough of Havering
Official logo of London Borough of Havering
Motto: 
Liberty
Havering shown within Greater London
Havering shown within Greater London
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionLondon
Ceremonial countyGreater London
Created1 April 1965
Admin HQRomford
Government
 • TypeLondon borough council
 • BodyHavering London Borough Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet (Havering Residents Association (NOC))
 • MayorCllr Stephanie Nunn
 • London AssemblyKeith Prince AM for Havering and Redbridge
 • MPsJon Cruddas L
Andrew Rosindell C
Julia Lopez C
Area
 • Total43.35 sq mi (112.27 km2)
 • Rank184th (of 296)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total262,022
 • Rank68th (of 296)
 • Density6,000/sq mi (2,300/km2)
Time zoneUTC (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Postcodes
Area codes01708, 020
ONS code00AR
GSS codeE09000016
PoliceMetropolitan Police
Websitewww.havering.gov.uk

The London Borough of Havering (/ˈhvərɪŋ/ ) in East London, England, forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 259,552 inhabitants; the principal town is Romford, while other communities are Hornchurch, Upminster, Collier Row and Rainham. The borough is mainly suburban, with large areas of protected open space. Romford is a major retail and night time entertainment centre, and to the south the borough extends into the London Riverside redevelopment area of the Thames Gateway.[1] The name Havering is a reference to the Royal Liberty of Havering which occupied the area for several centuries. The local authority is Havering London Borough Council. It is the easternmost London borough.

Population[edit]

Population pyramid of the Borough of Havering

In 2011, the borough had a population of 237,232 [2] over 43 square miles (111.4 km2). Havering has a lower population density than other London Boroughs as large areas are parkland and 23 square miles (60 km2) (more than half the borough) is Metropolitan Green Belt protected land. Those areas of development are extensive but rarely intensive. It has, at 4.5%, a below average unemployment rate for Greater London,[3] and one of the lowest crime rates.

Havering has a significantly higher proportion of residents in white ethnic groups than other outer London boroughs (87.7% – 2011 census). The Black African population is the most significant minority ethnic group in Havering (3.2%). The Upminster ward of the borough is the third least ethnically diverse in Greater London, with a Simpson's diversity index of 1.10.[4]

Ethnicity[edit]

Ethnic makeup of Havering by single year ages in 2021
Ethnic demography of the London Borough of Havering over time
Ethnic Group Year
1981 estimations[5] 1991[6] 2001[7] 2011[8] 2021[9]
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
White: Total 232,585 97.6% 222,168 96.8% 213,421 95.2% 207,949 87.7% 197,314 75.3%
White: British 206,365 92% 197,615 83.3% 174,232 66.5%
White: Irish 3,390 1.5% 2,989 1.3% 2,894 1.1%
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller 160 259 0.1%
White: Roma 433 0.2%
White: Other 3,666 1.6% 7,185 3% 19,496 7.4%
Asian or Asian British: Total 4,266 1.85% 4,974 2.2% 11,545 4.8% 28,150 10.8%
Asian or Asian British: Indian 2,437 1.1% 2,756 1.2% 5,017 2.1% 11,292 4.3%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani 369 0.2% 457 0.2% 1,492 0.6% 5,683 2.2%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi 181 216 975 0.4% 4,774 1.8%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese 822 0.3% 886 0.4% 1,459 0.6% 2,011 0.8%
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian 457 0.2% 659 0.3% 2,602 1.1% 4,390 1.7%
Black or Black British: Total 2,166 0.94% 3,139 1.4% 11,481 4.8% 21,567 8.2%
Black or Black British: African 392 0.2% 1,377 0.6% 7,581 3.2% 14,138 5.4%
Black or Black British: Caribbean 1,297 0.6% 1,554 0.7% 2,885 1.2% 4,832 1.8%
Black or Black British: Other Black 477 0.2% 208 1,015 0.4% 2,597 1.0%
Mixed or British Mixed: Total 2,298 1% 4,933 2.1% 9,747 3.7%
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean 827 0.4% 1,970 0.8% 3,224 1.2%
Mixed: White and Black African 226 0.1% 712 0.3% 1,535 0.6%
Mixed: White and Asian 705 0.3% 1,154 0.5% 2,344 0.9%
Mixed: Other Mixed 540 0.2% 1,097 0.5% 2,644 1.0%
Other: Total 892 0.38% 416 0.2% 1,324 0.6% 5,274 2%
Other: Arab 311 0.1% 809 0.3%
Other: Any other ethnic group 892 0.38% 416 0.2% 1,013 0.4% 4465 1.7%
Ethnic minority: Total 5,662 2.4% 7,324 3.17% 10,827 5.8% 29,283 12.3 64,738 24.7%
Total 238,247 100% 229,492 100% 224,248 100% 237,232 100% 262,052 100%

Religion[edit]

Religious makeup of Havering by single year age groups in 2021

The following table shows the religious identity of residents residing in Havering.

Religion 2021[10]
Number %
Christian 136,765 52.2
Muslim 16,135 6.2
Jewish 1,305 0.5
Hindu 6,454 2.5
Sikh 4,498 1.7
Buddhism 1,092 0.4
Other religion 1,056 0.4
No religion 80,235 30.6
Religion not stated 14,512 5.5
Total 262,052 100.0
Population census
YearPop.±%
1801 6,370—    
1811 7,028+10.3%
1821 8,198+16.6%
1831 9,036+10.2%
1841 10,696+18.4%
1851 11,492+7.4%
1861 12,850+11.8%
1871 14,208+10.6%
1881 15,566+9.6%
1891 19,041+22.3%
1901 24,853+30.5%
1911 32,439+30.5%
1921 49,681+53.2%
1931 76,092+53.2%
1941 119,292+56.8%
1951 187,022+56.8%
1961 215,404+15.2%
1971 248,107+15.2%
1981 239,769−3.4%
1991 232,491−3.0%
2001 224,248−3.5%
2011 237,232+5.8%
Note:[11]

Neighbours[edit]

Havering is bordered to the south by the London Borough of Bexley by the River Thames, to the west by the London Borough of Redbridge and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and to the north and east by Essex.

Industry and commerce[edit]

There are over 7,000 businesses based in Havering. Romford is the main commercial hub of the borough with a small district of mainly office development close to the railway station. There is also some industry to the south between Rainham and the River Thames such as Rainham Steel headquarters on the boundary of Elm Park. Light industry elsewhere in the borough has been in decline, with major employers such as the former Star Brewery now closed down.[12] New industrial development is encouraged in the south of the borough has been encouraged by the London Development Agency (now GLA Land and Property), with the opening of the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence.

The main retail district is also located in Romford with several interconnected or neighbouring shopping arcades including the Liberty Shopping Centre, the Mercury Mall, and the Brewery. Romford Market is located to the north of Romford and is the largest market within the borough and in the surrounding area. Hornchurch and Upminster are the other main retail centres with extensive high street shopping areas.

Romford has a developed night-time economy with one of the highest concentrations of bars and nightclubs anywhere in Greater London outside the West End with public transport radiating into all parts of the borough.

Havering London Borough Council applied to the Government to allow a 'super-casino' to be built in the south of the borough,[13] however the application was rejected in May 2006.[14]

History[edit]

Early history[edit]

Modern settlement originated in Anglo-Saxon times when it consisted of Havering Palace and the surrounding lands that belonged to the king. The palace itself is known to have existed since at least the reign of Edward the Confessor when it was one of his primary residences. The area formed a liberty from 1465 which included the parishes of Havering-atte-Bower, Hornchurch and Romford.

The name Havering appears in documents from around the 12th century. The origins of this name have been debated by historians since the Middle Ages when it was linked to the legend of Edward the Confessor and a mystical ring returned to him by Saint John the Apostle. The event being commemorated in stained glass (from about 1407) in a chapel at Romford, that was dedicated to the king.[15]

Settlement[edit]

London Underground and fast rail services to central London resulted in considerable residential land use mixed with designated parklands and farmland under the planning policy of the predecessor local authorities and current authority during the 20th century and into the early 21st century.

The development of the borough came in two distinct phases. The first middle class suburban developments were built in the late Victorian and Edwardian period. The garden suburbs of Upminster, Emerson Park and Gidea Park (also known as Romford Garden Suburb) were spurred on by the building of the railway lines through Havering from Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street in the late 19th century.

In the 1930s the District Line was electrified and extended to Upminster with new stations at Elm Park and Upminster Bridge. Also at this time new industries near the area such as the Ford Motor Company plant at Dagenham caused a new wave of mostly working class developments along the route of the new Underground line. In addition to this, to the north of the borough, the large housing estates of Harold Hill and Collier Row were constructed to deal with the chronic housing shortages and early slum clearance programmes in central London.

Local government[edit]

The London Borough of Havering was created in 1965 by the combined former area of the Municipal Borough of Romford and Hornchurch Urban District which had been transferred to Greater London from Essex by the London Government Act 1963. The name originates from the Royal Liberty of Havering which covered broadly, but not exactly the same area, and had been abolished in 1892.[16]

Districts[edit]

Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch

This pattern of the 'garden suburb' with inter- and post-war private housing developments occurred widely across the borough, with small estates of social housing representing a low percentage of housing in any single council ward; six of the 30 electoral wards with fewer than 2% social housing are in the borough: Hylands, Mawneys, Pettits, Hacton and the two wards forming Upminster, Cranham and Upminster Ward.[17] Plans to extend existing developments in much of the borough are blocked as open land is protected as part of the Metropolitan Green Belt. In contrast, the southern part of Havering adjacent to the Thames is within the London Riverside section of the Thames Gateway redevelopment area. New open spaces and large scale house building to provide an entirely new residential community is planned.

The most built-up areas are the traditional garden suburb districts of Hornchurch, Emerson Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood, Romford and Upminster. These places have developed over the last hundred years to form a large area of continuous urban sprawl with indistinct boundaries.

A 2017 study found that, when comparing low-end rent to low-end earnings, private rented housing in Havering is the most affordable of any London borough.[18]

Named neighbourhoods are the developments of Ardleigh Green, Chase Cross, Collier Row, Elm Park, Harold Hill, Rainham. The borough's exurbs with green buffers of farmland or parkland are:

Transport[edit]

Roads[edit]

The M25 motorway forms part of the borough boundary to the east with North Ockendon the only settlement to fall outside. The A12 (near Romford) and the A13 (near Rainham) are the main trunk radial routes from central London and are located to the north and south of the borough respectively. The A127 trunk route to Southend begins at Gallows Corner; which also forms the eastern end of the A118 local artery from Stratford. The A124 local artery from Canning Town terminates at Upminster.

London Underground stations in Havering

Public transport[edit]

The District line of the London Underground runs roughly east–west through the middle of the borough and there is an extensive network of London Bus routes, linking all districts to Romford and other places beyond the borough.[19] The London, Tilbury and Southend line (operated by c2c) passes through the borough in two places and the Great Eastern Main Line passes through the north of the borough serving Romford, Gidea Park and Harold Wood. Elizabeth line runs stopping services via the GEML, and Greater Anglia operate non-stop services running straight through these stations. There is also a branch line from Romford to Upminster which is currently operated by London Overground. There are proposals for transport improvements in the south of the borough where the population is expected to rise.

Modernisation of railway transport in Havering[edit]

In May 2015, stopping services operated by Abellio Greater Anglia at the time, were replaced by Transport for London's new railway service, TfL Rail. These services ran new Class 345 trains, and occasionally some older Class 315 services. In May 2022, TfL Rail was rebranded as Elizabeth line, and all Class 315 trains were scrapped.

Travel to work[edit]

In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: driving a car or van, 31.8% of all residents aged 16–74; train, 11.9%; underground, metro, light rail, tram, 6.3%; bus, minibus or coach, 5.1%; on foot, 4.1%; work mainly at or from home, 2.4%; passenger in a car or van, 2.1%.[20]

Media[edit]

The local newspapers in Havering are The Havering Daily and the Romford Recorder.

Bedrock Radio [21] is a charity run community health & Hospital radio station located within the Queen's Hospital in Romford.

The first Hospital Radio Service In Havering began broadcasting in 1964 as Harold Wood Radio.[22] Today, Bedrock Radio serves the community by broadcasting online and to Queen's, King George & Goodmayes Hospitals and features information about the Hospitals and NHS services, promotes charitable and community organisations and has an extensive local events guide featuring community non-profit events.

Time 107.5 FM is the commercial radio station broadcasting to Havering and surrounding areas and features local news.

Places of interest[edit]

Fairkytes Arts Centre in Hornchurch is operated by Havering Council.

Governance[edit]

Havering Town Hall

Havering London Borough Council[edit]

A map showing the wards of Havering since 2022

Havering elects 55 councillors from 20 wards: [23]

After the 2006 local elections the Conservative Party had a majority on the council with 34 councillors and the second largest party represented was the Havering Residents Association with 13 councillors. The Rainham Independent Residents Association had three councillors, the Labour Party had two councillors and the Liberal Democrats and the BNP had one councillor each.[24]

Between May 2006 and October 2008 were three by-elections. The Residents' Association in St Andrews Ward and the Conservatives in Squirrels Health Ward each retained one seat, the Residents' Association lost South Hornchurch to an independent candidate. One councillor elected as a Conservative has resigned the whip and now sits as an independent. Following his election, the independent in South Hornchurch joined the leader of the Rainham Independent Residents' Association in forming the Independent Local Residents' Group. The other two Rainham Independent Residents' Association members formed the Rainham Residents' Association as a separate entity. In May 2004 Councillor Michael White was elected Leader of the council. In June 2014 Councillor Roger Ramsey was re-elected Leader of the council.

The 2010 local elections took place on 6 May 2010. The outcome was little change: Conservatives having 33 councillors, Havering Residents Group 12, Labour 5 and Independent Residents 4. The BNP lost its incumbent before the election having turned to an Independent Resident who was later elected as such. Labour increased its membership by three. The Independent Residents, who had split in 2008, regained the seats lost through the split. The Lib Dem Member also lost, to a Residents (ex-Labour) candidate.

In March 2013, UKIP gained its first seat on the authority. UKIP's Lawrence Webb gained his seat from the Conservatives following the death of veteran Conservative, Cllr. Dennis Bull. In July 2013, thirteen Conservative councillors were reported by the local press, the Romford Recorder, as being deselected by the Romford Conservative Association including council cabinet members, formal complaints were made to Conservative Party Headquarters, and later three Conservative councillors defected to UKIP. Councillors Sandra Binion, Ted Eden and Fred Osborne joined UKIP citing local and national disillusionment.

In the 2022 election, Havering Residents Association leader Ray Morgon became Leader of the Council in a coalition with Labour. The election was the first to take place with the 2022 ward changes which increased the number of wards to 20 and councillors to 55.[25]

Greater London representation[edit]

For elections to the Greater London Council, the borough formed the Havering electoral division, electing three members. In 1973 it was divided into the single-member Hornchurch, Romford and Upminster electoral divisions.[26] The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986.

Since 2000, for elections to the London Assembly, the borough forms part of the Havering and Redbridge constituency.

UK Parliament[edit]

Until 2010 the borough was split between the parliamentary constituencies of Hornchurch, Romford and Upminster with the three constituencies entirely within the borough. At the 2010 United Kingdom general election, the boundaries of these constituencies changed to a new Hornchurch and Upminster constituency and Rainham became part of the new cross-borough Dagenham and Rainham constituency.

Sport and leisure[edit]

The London Borough of Havering has several sporting clubs:

Twinning[edit]

Havering is twinned with:

Education[edit]

The Borough is the education authority for the district providing education in a mix of foundation, community and voluntary aided schools. There are also a number of academies.

Havering Adult College provides part-time day, evening and weekend adult education (19+) from sites throughout the borough.[29] Havering Sixth Form College provides sixth form education for pupils of borough schools as well as those who are resident in the borough.[30] Havering College of Further and Higher Education provides part-time and full-time education to students aged 14+.

A 2017 study by Trust for London and the New Policy Institute found that 52% of adults in Havering lack Level 3 Qualifications (A Level equivalent) – the worst level of any London borough. 44% of 19 year olds in Havering also lacked these qualifications – the second worst level in the capital.[31]

Health Care[edit]

The Borough of Havering is serviced by The Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.[32]

Provisions of Accident and Emergency from Queens Hospital, Romford. During the 2019/2020 financial year Queens hospital received 309,551 patients into the A&E department.[33]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Ideas for London Riverside" (PDF). London Borough of Havering. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  2. ^ "Key statistics for Local Authorities in England Wales". Office of National Statistics.
  3. ^ "Key statistics for Local Authorities in England Wales". Office of National Statistics.
  4. ^ "2011 Census Snapshot: Ethnic Diversity Indices for wards" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Ethnic minorities in Britain: statistical information on the pattern of settlement". Commission for Racial Equality: Table 2.2. 1985.
  6. ^ "1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales (Table 6)". UK Casweb Data services.
  7. ^ "Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  8. ^ "2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Religion - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  11. ^ "Havering: Total Population". A Vision of Britain Through Time. Great Britain Historical GIS Project. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Romford Area Action Plan" (PDF). London Borough of Havering. March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2007.
  13. ^ "'Super-casino' shortlist set out". BBC News. 24 May 2006.
  14. ^ "Prescott casino influence denied". BBC News. 30 August 2006.
  15. ^ Parishes: Havering-atte-Bower. A History of the County of Essex. Vol. 7. 1978. pp. 9–17. Retrieved 4 June 2007.
  16. ^ "Havering London Borough". Vision of Britain.
  17. ^ "Key Statistics: Population; Quick Statistics: Economic indicators". 2011 and 2001 censuses. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  18. ^ "London's Poverty Profile". Trust for London. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  19. ^ "Bus maps of Havering". Transport for London.
  20. ^ "2011 Census: QS701EW Method of travel to work, local authorities in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 November 2013. Percentages are of all residents aged 16–74 including those not in employment. Respondents could only pick one mode, specified as the journey's longest part by distance.
  21. ^ "Bedrock (Hospital Radio)". Bedrock (Hospital Radio).
  22. ^ "Celebrating 50 years of Hospital Radio in Havering in 2014". Bedrock Radio. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  23. ^ "The London Borough of Havering (Electoral Changes) Order 2021". gov.uk. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Elections data for the local government (borough) elections". Greater London Authority. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  25. ^ A, H. R. (11 May 2021). "The 2022 Ward Changes Confirmed". Haveringra. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  26. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Greater London Council Election results: Havering". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  27. ^ Romford Football Club. "History". Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  28. ^ "Hockey is Back!". Romford Ice Arena. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  29. ^ "Havering Adult College". Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  30. ^ "About us". Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  31. ^ "London's Poverty Profile". Trust for London. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  32. ^ Hospitals, B. H. R. "Home". BHR Hospitals. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  33. ^ Annual reports and accounts 2019/20 (PDF) (Report). NHS Trust. Retrieved 8 April 2023.[page needed]

External links[edit]

51°33′N 00°13′E / 51.550°N 0.217°E / 51.550; 0.217