The Strategic Planning Committee of Havering Council met on Thursday 9 July 2026 and approved the redevelopment of the Jewson builders' merchants site at 307-309 South Street, Romford. The committee also noted the minutes from previous meetings.

Redevelopment of Jewson Builders' Merchants Site

The committee approved the redevelopment of the Jewson builders' merchants site at 307-309 South Street, Romford to allow for business expansion. The approved plans include the demolition of the existing buildings and the construction of a new, larger branch with an expanded external storage area.

The application was called in by a former ward councillor due to concerns about overlooking and noise pollution affecting neighbouring properties on Dymoke Road. While the proposed new building will be taller and larger than the existing one, increasing its height by 3 metres to a maximum of 10.2 metres, officers considered the impact on amenity to be acceptable. The site is located within the Lyon Road Locally Significant Industrial Site (LSIS), an area designated for industrial and logistical uses.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Alex Donald regarding the loss of trees along the northern boundary and the time it would take for new trees to provide adequate screening. The case officer, Andrew Thornley, explained that while mature trees are more likely to fail, the proposed planting of younger, heavy standard trees would provide an instant impact and mature over time, also offering better carbon sequestration. The proposal includes the planting of 19 new trees on the northern boundary and 12 on the southern boundary, resulting in a net increase of 22 trees on site.

The design of the new building was considered broadly contextual with other industrial buildings within the LSIS, despite the increase in scale. The proposed materials were described as functional and modern, an improvement on the existing structure. The external storage rack, while visible, was deemed acceptable to improve site efficiency.

Environmental health officers were satisfied with the proposal, subject to conditions controlling noise, hours of use, and deliveries. Transport for London (TfL) raised concerns about parking provision, but the council's officers concluded that the proposed increase in parking was acceptable given the nature of the business. The development also includes measures to ensure biodiversity net gain, with a Biodiversity Gain Plan to be secured by condition.

The application was approved with conditions, including those relating to construction logistics, gas protection measures, parking and cycle facilities, delivery and servicing plans, external materials, biodiversity enhancements, tree planting, noise barriers, wildlife-sensitive lighting, and ecological mitigation. The decision was made in accordance with the council's development plan policies, including the Havering Local Plan and the London Plan.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The committee also formally noted the minutes from the Strategic Planning Committee meetings held on 3 March 2026 and 26 March 2026.