• Newham Council is partnering with London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), supported by the Mayor of London, to transform the road layout and street environment along Westfield Avenue and the southern section of Waterden Road
• The Westfield Avenue Public Realm Improvement scheme is part of Newham’s Just Transition Climate Action plan, and marks a major milestone in the Council’s Building a Fairer Newham plans to create London’s first Green Zone in Stratford
• The £12m investment will support walking and cycling to and from Stratford Station, Westfield Stratford City, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and Hackney
• Construction on Phase 1 started in January 2024 and works across the project will continue until completion in 2026.

The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE and Deputy Mayor of Newham, Councillor James Asser, were joined by Lyn Garner, Chief Executive of LLDC and Shirley Rodrigues, London Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy to celebrate the start of construction works for Westfield Avenue Public Realm Improvement scheme.

The project will improve the public realm and transport infrastructure to support walking and cycling, including wider pavements, a segregated cycle track, extra cycle stands, improvements to crossings, and the addition of 60 new trees, 31 rain gardens, and 15 planting beds.

The £12m grant-funded project is an initiative between Newham Council, LLDC, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL). The project has also received funding from the Mayor of London’s Green and Resilient Spaces Fund, London Stadium and local developers - Lendlease, Westfield, Telford Homes, and East Bank. 

Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, said: "I’m really excited that we’ve kick-started this important £12 million scheme as we marshal efforts with our partners to transform our position for Stratford to become London’s first ever Green Zone as part of our Just Transition Climate Action plans. By 2026, Newham residents and visitors to our borough will enjoy wider pavements, segregated cycle tracks, improved crossings, and connections from Stratford Station to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with more trees and green spaces to support better transport connectivity and encourage walking and cycling.

“In our borough, over 4,000 children have to go to hospital each year because of the air that they breathe; so this scheme will also support our air quality and climate emergency response. It’s a major milestone in our vision for Stratford as we future-proof Newham and transform it to become the fairest, greenest, and most exciting borough in London.”

Lyn Garner, Chief Executive of LLDC, said: “This is a vitally important project that will bring huge benefits to the local area. It will make significant improvements connecting Stratford Station, Westfield Avenue, and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will support the wider area by improving the public realm and accessibility for those cycling and walking on Westfield Avenue.”

Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said: “Thousands of Londoners and visitors use Westfield Avenue every year to access Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the London Stadium and Westfield Stratford. These improvements will make the gateway to some of our most popular attractions greener, more accessible, and more welcoming to all.

“Trees and green spaces have a vital role to play in tackling the climate emergency. This grant from the Mayor’s Green and Resilient Spaces Fund will support the planting of more than 70 trees to transform the appearance of the street, help clean the air, and offer vital shade and shelter from wind. The rain gardens will absorb rainwater and harmful chemicals from the road and pavement to preserve local waterways, making the area cleaner, safer, and more climate resilient.”

Newham Council is progressing various projects as part of its Stratford Vision plans, and current projects include the new entrance at Stratford Station; major expansion plans for Stratford Station and London’s largest estate regeneration and restoration scheme at the Carpenters Estate which will deliver 2,152 homes, of which 50 percent will be genuinely affordable homes.