Making great places to live: Lea Bridge and Leyton

Above: Coronation Square, image credit: Tom Bright.

One of the most important jobs the council has is to proactively plan for investment in our communities to make sure that growth and regeneration delivers what local people, businesses and the green environment need to flourish, we call this Inclusive Growth. 

Leyton and Lea Bridge have seen significant investment from both private and council-led development in recent years, and we are actively planning what this will look like in the future. 

Development within Leyton and Lea Bridge has unlocked further investment in social infrastructure, including new health centres and facilities, and environmental improvements, including new trees and greenspaces for our communities, strengthening the local economy and its distinctive local character. We proactively plan to ensure that everyone benefits from development in the area, especially groups that have historically been held back. The work we do makes sure that opportunities are distributed fairly, inequalities are reduced, and the wellbeing and life chances of residents are improved.  

Scroll through some of the highlights below showing what we’ve completed, what we’re currently delivering and what we’ve got planned to make Leyton and Lea Bridge thrive. 

This major new development from Waltham Forest Council in partnership with Taylor Wimpey, will provide 750 new homes, 50 per cent of them affordable, set around a public square which includes a fountain, community space and shops. In addition to the new sports centre (The Score Centre, pictured above, image credit: Tom Bright) and nursery that have already opened, we are working with the NHS to finalise a new health hub, and wellbeing support together under one roof. Phase 1 of the project has completed, and plans for Phase 2 is currently in progress. 

We’ll have more exciting announcements soon on the operators of the shops and the community space.

In 2023, planning permission was granted for 387 new homes at the Lea Bridge Station sites, and in 2024, the Greater London Authority (GLA) increased its grant allocation to make the entire development affordable. Alongside high quality green space and children’s play areas, a new entrance to Lea Bridge Station with a new station plaza will also be delivered. The scheme will provide commercial and community space, creating jobs and training opportunities for the Lea Bridge area. Works are anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026.

The private development, Lea Bridge Gasworks site plans to deliver 770 homes with grant funding sought from the Mayor of London to deliver a minimum of 20 per cent as affordable (123 in total), including 67 social rent homes and 56 intermediate homes, rising to 35% with enhanced grant. The scheme includes beautifully landscaped areas connecting to Jubilee Park. A new, integrated NHS health facility and nursery is proposed as part of the development, and future healthcare investment is planned to support Lea Bridge’s existing and future residents.  The construction of Lea Bridge Gasworks is expected to sustain over 550 construction jobs each year throughout the build.

Above: Perth Road Nature Garden

Vibrant and diverse natural spaces are a defining characteristic of Waltham Forest, and we are investing in green infrastructure in Lea Bridge and Leyton. 

Perth Road Nature Garden, opened in 2024, including new trees, enhanced biodiversity and a natural learning space for children. 

Investment is being planned to enhance Sidmouth Park and Coronation Gardens, helping to deliver improved play spaces, planting and green links for the local community. 

We are also seeking investment to enhance Jubilee Park, with the aim to improve links and deliver green spaces with richer biodiversity.

Inclusive Growth projects funded through local housing development have delivered major cultural and community benefits. These include the Lea Bridge Library extension (pictured above) which provided a new café and community space for residents in 2022, and a beautiful redesign of the library’s gardens completed in 2023. The impact has been significant, with an average of over 135,000 residents using the library per year since opening. 

Another fantastic project that opened to the public in 2023 was the Lea Valley Ice Centre, which includes two Olympic‑sized ice rinks with space for 800 spectators, a 100‑station gym, dance studios, community space, and a café to support both the ice rinks and the surrounding Lee Valley Regional Park. It is the only venue with two Olympic‑sized rinks in the south of England and supports a full range of activities, from competitive skating to public sessions, ice dancing, hockey, discos, gym classes, and community engagement events.

The project was funded by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority with support from the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

The council have worked with local business group the Francis Road Collective, to launch Friday Lates at Francis Road (pictured above) where businesses open later and have hosted plenty of entertainment, including a Reggae music evening, ceilidh, silent disco and outdoor cinema. This builds on the exciting daytime offer presented by the new KERB Street Market. Together, these initiatives have helped to support 11 businesses and 18 traders. 

The Leyton Midland Collective, a local business and community organisation, have worked with the council to deliver two brilliant events that brought footfall to Tilbury Road in Leyton Midland in 2025, supporting over 20 businesses and the Summer Streets funding has also supported Leyton Más, the People's Carnival, welcoming 6,000 visitors to the areas, supporting 26 local businesses and eight food vendors. 

The Summer Streets Fund has supported a brilliant programme of activity in Leyton over the in 2025, putting E10 on the map as an evening and nighttime destination. 

One of the attendees of the Harvest Celebration event organised by the Leyton Midland Collective said: “We thought the festival was another success. It was really inclusive of the whole area, we were able to see friends, taste food from the neighbourhood we hadn’t tried before, our children were able to enjoy the event. It truly brought everyone together.”

Pictured above: A computer generated image of Leyton Tube station.

Vital improvements to Leyton Tube station are underway, including the installation of a new step-free entrance, new lifts, two new staircases, a bridge, and an upgraded ticket hall. This project is supported by the council’s £9m contribution to the project, secured through a successful bid for regeneration funding from central government and local housing growth and delivered jointly with TfL, the GLA and the Department for Transport. These upgrades to Leyton station will make travelling more accessible for customers delivering a step-free connection and improved facilities in the south of the borough. 

This project also contributes to the council’s commitment to active transport, working towards Waltham Forest becoming a net-zero borough. Sustainability upgrades also include improved drainage, the recycling of excavation materials and the use of ultra-low-carbon building materials during construction. 

The works began in February 2025 and are expected to complete by 2027.