Beckton: B&Q, Halfords and Pets at Home shops to be demolished in huge Gateway Retail Park redevelopment

The plans, from UrBox Beckton Limited, will see most of the existing shops located at Gateway Retail Park in Beckton flattened to make way for industrial and warehouse space and offices.

Dozens of local residents, along with two MPs had objected to the plans, alongside representations from B&Q and McDonald’s, arguing life would be made harder for residents if the shops were lost to redevelopment.

The plans will see Halfords, B&Q, Pets at Home, Wren Kitchens and Tapi Carpets as well as a number of food chains including Subway, Creams and Domino’s demolished and replaced with four industrial units.

McDonald’s, Starbucks and KFC will not be impacted by the plans and will remain on site. During a meeting with Newham Council’s Strategic Development Committee earlier this week, UrBox Beckton’s representative said: “We want to create the best-in-class industrial and logistics development not just in terms of function but as a place where people genuinely want to work.

“The scheme will deliver 30,000 sqm across four high-quality units each with its own parking, service yard and modern office space. We’re going beyond standard expectations including wellness features and significantly enhanced ecological setting.”

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They went on to say 197 jobs will be created during construction and once built, the development will contribute £23.5million annually to the local economy.

As part of the Section 106 agreement, 35per cent of construction jobs will go to local people while 50per cent of end user jobs will also go to local people as part of a contribution worth over £189,000. UrBox Beckton will also make a financial contribution worth £270,895 which will go towards the funding of congestion management on the A13.

The committee heard from several objectors, including residents and the head vet and practice owner of the veterinary practice at Pets at Home. She told the committee the practice has affordable services with nearly 9,000 active registered clients, and said it would be “very hard” for clients to go elsewhere because other practices are small and don’t have the capacity.

She said: “With the other retail parks at risk, honestly I don’t know if we are going to be able to find somewhere else to go. If we do, it will cost us a lot of money to relocate and set up an entirely new practice which will put our prices up. This is going to reduce the affordable veterinary care in the area, already people have a lot of waiting lists and a lot of problems getting veterinary appointments. I think it’s going to make it a lot harder for them as well.”

She went on to say: “I think that’s disgusting, there are no other big local practices and we are serving the community. We shouldn’t be having to move at this stage.”

During April and May 2024, Stephen Timms, the Labour MP for East Ham and Lyn Brown, the former-Labour MP for West Ham (now West Ham and Beckton), wrote to the council to object to the plans.

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B&Q also objected to the plans, stating it would result in the loss of local jobs, while McDonald’s local franchisee said the proposals will have a “severe impact” on his business. Planning officers said while they understand the value shops such as B&Q and Pets at Home have for residents, they are not valid grounds to refuse planning permission.

They said in council documents: “Notwithstanding the above, the applicant has confirmed that they are working with existing stakeholders to aid in finding alternate sites. The applicant has provided an assessment of alternative locations for DIY provision in the local area to help address these queries.”

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In response to concerns over job losses from the existing sites, planning officers said: “…the planning process can only assess job creation in general terms in accordance with the above policies which look at net job creation and the creation of employment floorspace.

“However, ultimately, the specifics of hiring individuals is a matter for the end user based on the needs of the use and determined in accordance with national employment law.”

The plans were ultimately approved by the committee. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands construction is not expected to begin until 2030, as some of the shops have a number of years left on their leases.