Hello Everyone,
This has been another busy week in Newham, with prestigious award nominations, exciting announcements, and an auspicious start to the festive season.
Firstly, we welcomed the fantastic news that Newham has been chosen as the preferred new home for historic London markets, Billingsgate and Smithfield, by the City of London Corporation.
This is both significant and fantastic news for Newham and a testament to the work that we’ve been progressing over the past 7-years at our majestic Royal Docks through our collaboration with the GLA.
Being chosen as the preferred new home of the famed markets is all linked to our Newham Growth Plan and our strategic 5-year plan 2024 – 2029 for the Royal Docks that we have been advancing with the officer teams here at the Council and at the GLA.
Once all the approvals are given over the next couple of years, the markets would move to the Albert Island area of the Royal Docks, driving more commercial, visitor destination opportunities, and new jobs to our iconic waterfront.
Albert Island is one of three main development sites at the Royal Docks (the others being Silvertown and Royal Albert), bringing jobs and economic opportunity to one of our key growth areas in the borough and also furthering the London Growth Plan. The announcement follows last week’s confirmation of the DLR extension through Beckton Riverside to Thamesmead and together these developments will unlock land for up to 25,000 homes and 10,000 jobs.
The markets choosing to call Newham home sends a strong signal that our borough is ripe for investment. I’m proud to see Newham becoming a destination borough and welcome the markets joining other amazing London Institutions, including University College London, V&A East, and the London College of Fashion. You can read my full statement on the markets moving to Newham here.
This week in Newham, we kicked off the countdown to Christmas in style at ExCeL’s Christmas Tree light up ceremony. It was wonderful to be joined by St Antony’s Primary School Choir, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when they performed stunning renditions of classic hymns, including some exceptional solos.
The event marked the 25th anniversary of the ExCeL and 25 years since their charity partner, Richard House Children’s Hospice, was founded right here in Newham. Richard House is a truly special place, where medical professionals and volunteers come together to provide hope, compassion, and unwavering support for over 300 children and families facing life-limiting health conditions. It was incredibly moving to speak with families who have received support from Richard House and join local businesses and partners in their support for this exceptional charity.
Earlier today the fun continued as I had the great privilege of handing a £1000 prize to the lovely pupils from Star Primary School who had won Westfield Stratford City's School Christmas Choir Competition - which was pure joy!
I also headed over to East Ham Town Hall to light up a giant Christmas tree funded through sponsorship by our valued construction partners who we work with to deliver homes in Newham.
Now I’m heading off to Meridian Square in Stratford with the super helpful Aadam from the Council's Our Newham service to light up an even bigger Christmas Tree there. The Christmas spirit continues into this weekend with a whole host of local events taking place across the borough with festive lights switching on at Forest Gate Market Square, Manor Park Library, Queens Square Market, and Custom House. You can find out more about these events below.
As the year draws to a close, I continue to look forward as we plan to secure a bright and fairer future for our borough and our people. Nothing threatens our future more than the challenge of the Climate Crisis, both here in London and across the world. That’s why Newham was one of the first boroughs to declare a Climate Emergency in 2019 and has since been at the forefront of delivering meaningful climate action.
In 2023, we took the ground breaking step of laying out a now award-winning road map towards delivering a Just Transition – demonstrating that solving the Climate Crisis isn’t just about decarbonising but about delivering real benefits for local people and mitigating against the impacts we are already feeling in Newham.
Our Just Transition Plan has delivered tangible results, unlocking retrofit and heat decarbonisation at scale; creating agency for residents to participate in the energy transition through our community energy programmes; and building resilience to extreme temperatures and future flash flooding through pocket forest programmes in strategic locations. Perhaps most significantly, we have also sparked a collective campaign across the Capital and nation, inspiring change at every level of government.
The road towards a Just Transition is long, and we have produced a report recording our progress thus far and reaffirming our commitment to continuing to drive meaningful and substantive change - delivering a better and fairer future for everyone in Newham. Finally, on Monday, I was invited to the Tech Impact Awards, which shine a spotlight on the people and organisations using technology to make a real difference. Newham was the only London borough nominated for an award.
It was an incredible honour to have our work inspiring young people to explore careers in data and technology shortlisted for the Inspiring the Next Generation Award. Being shortlisted for the Tech Impact Awards is a powerful recognition of how we’re driving inclusive growth through innovation, ensuring every resident, especially our young people, can share in the opportunities created by the UK’s data economy.
I’ll continue driving forward initiatives like these, inspiring the next generation and building the foundations for a fairer, more digital future for everyone in Newham, the borough we all love.
Until next week, look after yourself and take care!
Best wishes,
Rokhsana Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz | 
