Central Romford Environment

The quality of shop fronts make an important contribution to the visual appeal of the environment of central Romford and Romford Conservation Area. Elaborate or expensive shop fronts are not always suitable or affordable for shop owners. Shop fronts should, however, fit the building façade properly and reflect the proportions of the building. They need not be made of expensive material. An application for a new shop front has been refused at 15 South Street (where Burtons was). An application from Superdrug has been approved with conditions to ensure compliance to the detail of the proposal. A decision is awaited on an application at 2-4 South Street, a very sensitive site opposite the Golden Lion and in the heart of Romford Conservation Area, and on an application at 49-52 South Street. Very many congratulations and thanks to Milner Elledge solicitors for taking advantage of an English Heritage/ Havering Council scheme to improve shop fronts in conservation areas and make a fine restoration of their façade in this very attractive row of late Victorian shops. It his hoped that improvements can be made at the other properties in the block. Swan Housing will be restoring the façades of the old Wool pack pub (formerly "Secrets") opposite this in the High Street as part of their development at the site. Flats being constructed in Angel Way behind the Woolpack are of high design quality and high standards of environmental sustainability, achieving level 4 of the "Code for Sustainable Homes".

The half-built structure, currently covered in scaffolding, in North Street near the ring road was refused planning permission by the local authority but unfortunately the Government Planning Inspector resolved that it was acceptable, with results which we can now see.