Art for Havering’s Heritage and Community

Havering is set to welcome a landmark new public art project that will bring colour, creativity, and energy into the borough. It will create a lasting and transformative artwork that reflects Havering’s diverse landscapes and communities. It will be one of the first major public art commissions in Havering for many years, offering a rare opportunity to connect heritage, people, and place through contemporary creativity.

Commissioned by Havering London, the project has already begun with artists visiting the borough throughout the summer to immerse themselves in its character. They have explored a wide variety of sites, from historic centres to suburban streets, lively civic spaces, and expansive green landscapes. Locations such as Romford Market, Rom Skatepark, Raphael Park, Bedfords Park and Havering Country Parks have all provided inspiration. These explorations are informing ideas and proposals, which will be revealed in the coming months. One artwork will be realised in early 2026, marking a moment of cultural investment and renewal.

Public art has the power to transform how places are experienced, encouraging people to see familiar streets, parks, and buildings in a new light while strengthening local pride and identity. Havering provides a particularly rich backdrop for such a project. The borough has a distinctive history of architectural innovation, civic craft, and landscape design that has shaped its identity. Gidea Park, for example, is renowned for its early 20th-century model homes, built as part of the 1910s and 1930s “Exhibition Estates.” Conceived as a “concept suburb,” these developments invited leading architects such as C. H. B. Quennell, Raymond Unwin, and Wells Coates to design houses that set new standards for healthy, practical, and affordable living. Ranging from Arts & Crafts cottages to striking modernist experiments with flat roofs, geometric forms, and open-plan layouts, they were more than architectural showcases: they were prototypes for new ways of life. Today, they remain a lasting testament to Havering’s design heritage.

Beyond Gidea Park, Havering’s identity has also been shaped by its civic spaces and details. Romford Market, established in 1247, has long been a centre of community life, while Raphael Park, with its ornamental gates, lodges, and railings, blends heritage with public use. The 1907 Jubilee Clock Tower in Romford, commemorating Queen Victoria’s reign, still stands as a landmark of civic pride. Heritage street signage, post-war bus shelters, and market infrastructure also tell the story of how design has been woven into the everyday fabric of the borough.

Equally central to Havering’s character is its wealth of green space, making it one of London’s greenest boroughs. Havering Country Park, with its open fields and roaming deer, connects directly to the area’s natural heritage. Bedfords Park combines formal gardens and sweeping lawns with wildflower meadows rich in biodiversity, while the Ingrebourne Valley Nature Reserve attracts birdwatchers and walkers to its reed beds and riverside landscapes. These environments remind residents that Havering is a place where urban life meets the rhythms of nature. For artists, they offer endless inspiration and creative possibility.

Looking ahead, the next stage will see artists’ designs developed and shared with the public. The final artwork, to be realised in early 2026, will be a bold and permanent addition.