| Elm Park | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Elm Park Hotel opened in 1938 as the only pub. Now fully removed. | |
  Elm Park Location withinGreater London | |
| Population | 12,466 (2011 Census. Ward)[1] |
| OS grid reference | TQ525855 |
| • Charing Cross | 14.3 mi (23.0 km) WSW |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HORNCHURCH |
| Postcode district | RM12 |
| Dialling code | 01708 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| UK Parliament | |
| London Assembly | |
| 51°32′54″N0°11′55″E / 51.5482°N 0.1987°E /51.5482; 0.1987 | |
Elm Park is a suburbanplanned community in East London and part of theLondon Borough of Havering. Located 14.3 miles (23.0 km) east-northeast ofCharing Cross, it is identified as a district centre in theLondon Plan with several streets of shops and a priority for regeneration. Prior to the construction of the extensiveElm Park Garden City development in the 1930s it was a scattered settlement of farms in the south of the parish of Hornchurch. Elm Park has been connected to central London by the electrifiedDistrict line service since 1935 and the planned development of the area formed part of theinterwar private housing boom that was interrupted byWorld War II. After the war Elm Park expanded with social housing and it has formed part ofGreater London since 1965.
The place name Elm Park was devised in 1933.[2] It was derived from Elm Farm, which is first recorded in 1777 and was known as Elms in 1883.[3]
The area that became Elm Park formed part of theSouth End ward of the parish of Hornchurch; the large ancient parish occupied the same area as theroyal manor andliberty ofHavering. The Havering courts and Hornchurch vestry were the principal local government in the area. The liberty was abolished in 1892 and the parish vestry in 1894. Elected local government was incorporated by theLocal Government Act 1894. Hornchurchcivil parish was governed by Hornchurch Parish Council and formed part of theRomford Rural District, governed by Romford Rural District Council.
As the population was increasing, in 1926 the Hornchurch parish was removed from the rural district to becomeHornchurch Urban District and the parish council became Hornchurch Urban District Council. The council, based inLangtons House from 1929, was the planning authority during the transition of Elm Park from farms to suburban development. The Hornchurch Urban District was abolished in 1965 and Elm Park became part of theLondon Borough of Havering in Greater London.
Elm Park Garden City was a planned community by the developerRichard Costain and Sons Ltd., drawing on the ideas of thegarden city movement. Costain purchased the land of Wyebridge, Elm and Uphavering farms for the development in 1933. Plans were announced for 7,000 houses on 600 acres (2.4 km2) of land for private sale in May 1933, and were submitted to Hornchurch Urban District Council in June. Costain negotiated a higher density of development than was usually permitted. In return the council achieved some improvements, including provision of wider roads, a bridge over the railway line, and the donation of land forHarrow Lodge Park. Costain built an estate office at the corner of Coronation Drive and Maylands Avenue that later became occupied by areal estate solicitor.[2]
Costain negotiated with theLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway to have a station built on the London to Southend railway that ran through the area andElm Park Underground station, served by theDistrict line of theLondon Underground, opened in 1935. The station and the Elm Park Garden City were officially opened byHilton Young,Minister of Health in May 1935. Celebrations to mark the opening included a performance by theDagenham Girl Pipers. The Assembly Hall, intended to be used as a recreation space and theatre, was given to theElm Park Residents' Association, which was established in July 1935. The estate was marketed as "Elm Park Romford", withRomford approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) to the north. A frequent bus service was provided from 1939.[2]
House building on the estate was halted byWorld War II. Because of the proximity ofRAF Hornchurch the area was subjectaerial bombing with some damage to the housing stock. After the war national housing policy had changed and Hornchurch Urban District Council deviated from the Costain plans to provide higher densitysocial housing throughcompulsory purchase of the land, using loans from thePublic Works Loan Board. By 1964 the council had created 1,146 council houses in Elm Park.[2]
Since the2022 election, Elm Park is contained within theElm Park ward of the London Borough of Havering. The ward elects three councillors toHavering London Borough Council. The majority of Elm Park is withinDagenham and Rainham UK Parliament constituency, but the area to the east of The Broadway and north of the railway is part of theHornchurch and Upminster constituency. All of Elm Park is within theHavering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency.
Open spaces in the area includeHarrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch Country Park, Swallow Walk,Brettons Park and Eastbrookend Country Park of theThames Chase forest. Nearest places areDagenham,Rainham, andRomford.
| Elm Park ward compared (2001 Census) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistic | Elm Park | Havering | London | England |
| Ethnic group | ||||
| White | 11,398 | 213,421 | 5,103,203 | 44,679,36 |
| Asian | 215 | 4,088 | 866,693 | 2,248,289 |
| Black | 191 | 3,139 | 782,849 | 1,132,508 |
| Mixed | 148 | 2,298 | 226,111 | 643,373 |
| Chinese/Other | 96 | 1,302 | 193,235 | 435,300 |
| Population | ||||
| Total | 12,048 | 224,248 | 7,172,091 | 49,138,831 |
| Density(/hectare) | 32.85 | 19.97 | 45.62 | 3.77 |
| Households | 4,950 | 91,722 | 3,015,997 | 20,451,427 |
The 2001 census shows the Elm Park ward has a population density higher than the borough of Havering, lower than all of London, but much higher than England as a whole. The population is predominately White, 92% within theWhite British classification, which is typical for the borough, and both higher than London and England. The mean and median average age of the population is 40, which is typical for the borough, about five years above London as a whole and slightly above the average for England.[4]
Elm Park is identified as a district centre in theLondon Plan and a priority for regeneration.[5] Within Havering it is near to the major centre at Hornchurch and metropolitan centre at Romford. The compact retail area extends along the whole of The Broadway, which is flanked by the Station Parade and Tadworth Parade precincts, and continues along parts of Elm Park Avenue and Saint Nicholas Avenue. There are 196 units in the town centre. As of November 2012, 13.91% are convenience goods, 30.43% comparison goods, 42.61% services, and 13.04% vacant.[6] These include a variety of independent and high street brand shops, including banks, clothes shops, pharmacies, bakers, greengrocers, fishmongers, florists, opticians, bicycle shops, butchers, hairdressers, grocery stores, off licence, dry cleaners, travel agents, and a post office. The unit sizes are fairly small, with aTesco Express andThe Co-operative Food forming some of the larger stores. There is a library which has recently been rebuilt.[7] There are a number of takeaways, cafes and restaurants.
Elm Park is served by Elm Park Underground station and hasLondon Bus services to nearbyRomford,Rainham and Hornchurch town centre. Regeneration linked to theThames Gateway project has been mooted and recent changes such as the installation of new street lighting have been made. TheEast London Transit includes an option to serve the area.
Elm Park was the site of a derailment of aBritish Rail commuter service on 29 March 1965 resulting in two deaths and 15 people being injured: an act of vandalism by unknown persons (placing an obstruction on the line) derailed a London Fenchurch St. to Shoeburyness passenger train travelling at 70 m.p.h.[8]
Regeneration in the area is led by Havering London Borough Council and the Elm Park Regeneration Partnership. Elm Park is served by several churches - the Elm Park Baptist Church, St Albans Catholic Church, and St. Nicholas Church of England. It is also home to Arise Metropolitan Assembly which meets at the annex of the Elm Park Community Assembly Hall on Eyhurst/St.Nicholas Avenue, Christ Life Church and Eagles Christian Connections. It is also in Elm Park that the London Metropolitan Assembly convened by Apostle George Akalonu meets each month to discuss issues of common interest to faith, civic and community leaders.
