£3 billion regeneration scheme moves Canning Town forward

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC), Newham Council and the London Development Agency (LDA) today announced the opening of The Place - signifying the first tangible step towards the £3billion Canning Town and Custom House regeneration scheme. Parmjit Dhanda MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, CLG formally opens The Place which will facilitate the upskilling of local people and connect them with new opportunities and developments in their area.

The Place is a joint project between LTGDC, Newham Council, London Development Agency (LDA) and the Metropolitan Police - demonstrating a shared approach to improving the quality of life for local people.

Communities Minister Parmjit Dhanda says:

"I'm delighted to open The Place, a centre that will prove to be an invaluable community resource in Canning Town and, importantly, one that provides access to the many opportunities in the area. We want to see real change in these parts of East London and are backing regeneration plans for the area with millions of pounds of Government investment."

Peter Andrews, Chief Executive of LTGDC, says:

"This is an exciting time for us, and a first step towards change that will help create a rejuvenated heart for Canning Town.  But regeneration is not just about new houses and jobs – it's about people – and driving social cohesion is at the heart of this project. The Place ensures that Canning Town residents are aware of the changes and are in a position to take full advantage of the exciting developments happening on their doorstep."

Tom Russell, Group Director for Olympic Legacy at the London Development Agency, said:

"The employment support service at The Place will help people into work both on the Olympic site and across London. Together with its sister Workplace service in Stratford we are working to ensure that an Olympic legacy is delivered now in Newham.  By providing access to training and supporting businesses in east London we will continue to create opportunities that will last well beyond the Games."

Mayor for Newham, Sir Robin Wales said:

"We are regenerating Canning Town and Custom House so that it can thrive, providing community facilities and quality 21st century housing. At the heart of our vision for the area and for Newham is mixed communities, which will build cohesion, where people in mixed tenure housing can live side by side. Local residents requested greater visibility and presence of services and The Place is the first iconic delivery of local needs right on their doorstep. We are delighted that we can offer people the opportunity to come to one place and get access to a range of services or simply get information about the developments in their area."

The Place is a new community resource bringing together job brokerage, skills and training, neighbourhood policing, community developments and information on the ambitious regeneration programme - all under one roof. Newham Council's crime and anti-social behaviour team and the Metropolitan Police's Safer Neighbourhood teams will both be available at The Place.  Regular surgeries, drop-ins and patrols will proactively contribute to the reduction of anti-social behaviour and crime by increasing visibility and engaging with the local community. Workplace will provide job brokerage services and will support local people into the job opportunities arising in the area. The Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Project team continues to work with the local community to ensure that consultation remains at the heart of delivering regeneration developments in the area.

The regeneration of Canning Town and Custom House contributes to the Government's sustainable housing targets, creating over 10,000 new homes and 3,500 jobs in the local area. Not only will Canning Town provide new homes and jobs, the regeneration will provide 55,000 square metres of retail, commercial and open public space for the local community. The regeneration of Canning Town and Custom House is a major part of plans to transform the heart of east London and together with the 2012 Games, it will improve the quality of life for people living, working and visiting the Lower Lea Valley. With superb existing transport links and Canning Town’s proximity to the proposed Crossrail - the area's growth and investment potential is phenomenal.

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For further information please go to www.ltgdc.org.uk

For further press information please contact:
Miniushka Mujtaba or Jessica Goodwin
Ph: 0207 467 9223/0207 467 9247
Email: miniushka.mujtaba@bisslancaster.com
Email: jessica.goodwin@bisslancaster.com  
 
Notes to editors:
 
About The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC):

LTGDC is the Urban Development Corporation responsible for delivering social, environmental and economic growth that will transform the London Thames Gateway areas of the Lower Lea Valley and London Riverside.

For further information about LTGDC, please visit the website www.ltgdc.org.uk.

About Drivers Jonas LLP:

Drivers Jonas is a European private partnership of commercial and residential property consultants.

For further information on Drivers Jonas please go to www.driverjonas.com.