London Borough of Redbridge

Last updated

London Borough of Redbridge
Arms-redbridge.jpg
LBRedbridge logo.png
Motto(s): 
In unity, progress
Redbridge in Greater London.svg
Redbridge shown within Greater London
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region London
Ceremonial county Greater London
Created1 April 1965
Admin HQ Ilford
Government
  Type London borough council
  Body Redbridge London Borough Council
  London Assembly Keith Prince (CON) AM for Havering and Redbridge
   MPs Calvin Bailey (LAB)
Iain Duncan Smith (CON)
Jas Athwal (LAB)
Wes Streeting (LAB)
Area
  Total
21.78 sq mi (56.41 km2)
  Rank236th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
  Total
310,911
  Rank44th (of 296)
  Density14,000/sq mi (5,500/km2)
Time zone UTC (GMT)
  Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
Postcodes
E, IG, RM
Area code 020
ISO 3166 code GB-RDB
ONS code 00BC
GSS code E09000026
Police Metropolitan Police
Website https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/

The London Borough of Redbridge is a London borough established in 1965. [1]

Contents

The borough shares boundaries with the Epping Forest District and the ceremonial county of Essex to the north, with the London Borough of Waltham Forest to the west, the London Borough of Havering to the east, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in the south east, and the London Borough of Newham to the south west.

The principal settlements in the borough are Ilford, Wanstead and Woodford.

Etymology

The name comes from a bridge over the River Roding which was demolished in 1921. The bridge was made of red brick, unlike other bridges in the area made of white stone. The name had first been applied to the Redbridge area and Redbridge tube station was opened in 1947. It was earlier known as Hocklee's Bridge. [2]

History

The borough was formed in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, covering the whole of the former municipal boroughs of Ilford and Wanstead and Woodford, plus smaller areas from the Municipal Borough of Dagenham and Chigwell Urban District, which were included to unite in one borough the Hainault area which had previously straddled Ilford, Dagenham and Chigwell. [3] The area was transferred from Essex to Greater London to become one of the 32 London Boroughs. [4]

Following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, minor changes were made on 1 April 1994 to the boundary with Barking & Dagenham [5] and Newham. [6] Further changes were made on 1 April 1995 to the boundary with Waltham Forest [7] and Epping Forest District. [8] The latter change transferred an area around Grange Hill and Roding Valley tube stations from Essex to Greater London. [8]

Geography

Parks and open spaces

Redbridge has more than 35 parks, playgrounds and open spaces. These include Hainault Forest Country Park, with 300 acres of countryside including adventure play areas, cafe and petting zoo; Roding Valley Park, a wildlife sanctuary with a range of flora and fauna and woodland areas; Valentines Park, including Valentines Mansion, ornamental gardens, bowling green and outdoor gym; and Claybury Woods and Park, a conservation area that features an ancient area of oak and hornbeam woodland, meadows and wildlife ponds. [9]

Arts and culture

Valentines Mansion is a Georgian country house and gardens in the grounds of Valentines Park, Ilford. [10]

Kenneth More Theatre in Oakfield Road, Ilford opened in 1975. [11]

Redbridge Museum, which opened in 2000, is situated on the second floor of Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford, along with the Redbridge Heritage Centre. [12] [13]

The Embassy Cinema is an Art Deco former cinema in Chadwell Heath. It opened in 1934 and closed in 1966, but is currently the focus of a major restoration project. [14]

Libraries

Redbridge has 11 libraries across the borough. This includes the Redbridge Central Library, in Clements Road, Ilford, which had a major refurbishment in 2012. The libraries offer a number of services including reading clubs, story time sessions, study areas and learning resources. The libraries in Redbridge are operated by Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure, a Charitable Trust established by Redbridge Council and now operating independently. [15]

  • Aldersbrook Library
  • Fullwell Cross Library
  • Gants Hill Library
  • Goodmayes Library
  • Hainault Library
  • Redbridge Central Library (in Ilford town centre)
  • Keith Axon Library (in Chadwell Heath)
  • Seven Kings Library
  • South Woodford Library & Gym
  • Wanstead Library
  • Woodford Green Library & Gym

Governance

Redbridge Town Hall on Ilford High Road Ilford Redbridge Town Hall.JPG
Redbridge Town Hall on Ilford High Road

The local authority is Redbridge Council, which meets at Redbridge Town Hall (formerly Ilford Town Hall) and has its main offices at the nearby Lynton House. [16]

Greater London representation

Since 2000, for elections to the London Assembly, the borough forms part of the Havering and Redbridge constituency.

Demographics

Population pyramid of Redbridge in 2021 Redbridge population pyramid.svg
Population pyramid of Redbridge in 2021

In 2011 the population of Redbridge was recorded at 278,970. [17] In common with the other London boroughs this continues a period of growth; between the 1991 and 2001 censuses the increase was 7.5% [18] with a further rise of 15.3% by 2011. [17] Redbridge has the third highest proportion of children and a higher-than-average proportion of older adults while the proportion of working age adults is slightly lower than average. [19] The population density was last recorded at 4,945 residents per km2 (the London regional density is 5,199, far higher than the England and Wales figure of 371). [17]

The healthy life expectancy (HLE) at birth for Redbridge residents stands at 65.5 years for males and 62.4 years for females (the England average HLE is 63.4 for males and 64.1 for females). [20]

Redbridge is one of the most ethnically diverse local authority areas in the UK. 34% of respondents to the 2011 census stated that they were born outside the UK and 65.5% identified as belonging to an ethnic group other than white British. [21] Redbridge's largest ethnic group is White British (34.5%), followed by Indian (16.4%), [21] and Pakistani (Redbridge has the highest proportion of Pakistani residents of any London borough). [21]

Population census
YearPop.±%
1801 4,909    
1811 6,317+28.7%
1821 7,829+23.9%
1831 8,572+9.5%
1841 9,290+8.4%
1851 9,921+6.8%
1861 16,409+65.4%
1871 22,897+39.5%
1881 29,385+28.3%
1891 51,250+74.4%
1901 77,621+51.5%
1911 117,735+51.7%
1921 152,209+29.3%
1931 196,790+29.3%
1941 230,876+17.3%
1951 270,876+17.3%
1961 254,605−6.0%
1971 239,337−6.0%
1981 224,724−6.1%
1991 231,198+2.9%
2001 238,628+3.2%
2011 278,970+16.9%
2021 310,261+11.2%
Note: [22]

Ethnic and religious change

In common with many London boroughs, the 2011 census showed notable ethnic and religious population mobility in Redbridge. Ethnic groups whose proportions fell in Redbridge were White British (-23% of the borough's total), Irish (-0.9%), and Caribbean (-0.6%). Ethnic groups whose proportions rose include Pakistani (+4.9%), other Asians (+4.4%), Bangladeshis (+3.9%), and other White (+2.9%). Religious groups whose proportions fell in Redbridge were Christian (-13.9%) and Jews (-2.5%). For Jews this represented a fall of over 50% of their number in some wards. Religious groups whose proportions rose include Muslims (+11.4%) followed by Hindu (+3.6%). [21]

Ethnicity

Ethnic makeup of Redbridge by single year ages in 2021 Ethnic makeup of Redbridge by single year ages in 2021.svg
Ethnic makeup of Redbridge by single year ages in 2021
Ethnic GroupYear
1971 estimations [23] 1981 estimations [24] 1991 census [25] 2001 census [26] 2011 census [27] 2021 census [28]
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
White: Total96.3%199,98488%181,13478.3%151,58763.5%118,64642.6%107,97434.9%
White: British 137,09757.5%96,25334.5%71,84423.2%
White: Irish 5,5592.3%3,9001.4%3,0921.0%
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller 1400.1%1850.1%
White: Roma1,1040.4%
White: Other 8,9313.7%18,3536.6%31,74910.2%
Asian or Asian British: Total19,4518.5%37,17716.1%61,58525.8%116,50341.7%146,83347.3%
Asian or Asian British: Indian 13,13024,07833,30414.0%45,66016.4%51,18316.5%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani 3,4756,55214,8886.2%31,05111.1%44,00014.2%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi 7021,9764,2241.8%16,0115.7%31,89510.3%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese 8731,5741,9620.8%3,0001.1%2,9180.9%
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian1,2712,9977,2073.0%20,7817.4%16,8375.4%
Black or Black British: Total5,8772.6%9,8634.2%18,1127.6%24,8458.8%26,0968.4%
Black or Black British: African 1,4102,5457,8273.3%12,3574.4%14,5734.7%
Black or Black British: Caribbean 3,3725,6919,1263.8%9,0643.2%8,4522.7%
Black or Black British: Other Black 1,0951,6271,1590.5%3,4241.2%3,0711.0%
Mixed or British Mixed: Total5,8314.2%11,4564.1%12,7364.2%
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean1,8841.5%3,2041.1%3,1541.0%
Mixed: White and Black African7420.8%1,6920.6%1,7170.6%
Mixed: White and Asian1,8530.8%3,2511.2%3,5771.2%
Mixed: Other Mixed1,3522.5%3,3091.2%4,2881.4%
Other: Total1,8373,0251,5200.6%7,5202.7%16,6225.3%
Other: Arab1,5510.6%2,2630.7%
Other: Any other ethnic group1,5200.6%5,9692.1%14,3594.6%
Ethnic minority: Total3.7%27,16511.9%50,06521.7%87,04836.5%160,32457.3%202,28765.1%
Total100%227,149100%231,199100%238,635100.00%278,970100.00%310,261100%

Religion

Religious make up of Redbridge by single year age groups in 2021 Religious makeup of Redbridge by single year age groups in 2021.svg
Religious make up of Redbridge by single year age groups in 2021
Religion in Redbridge [29]
ReligionPer cent(%)
Muslim
31.3%
Christian
30.4%
No religion
12.6%
Hindu
11.1%
Undeclared
5.7%
Sikh
5.7%
Jewish
2.1%
Other
0.7%
Buddhist
0.5%

According to the 2021 Census, the largest religious groupings are Muslims (31.3 per cent), followed by Christians (30.4 per cent), those of no religion (12.6 per cent), Hindus (11.1 per cent) no response (5.7 per cent), Sikhs (5.7 per cent), Jews (2.1 per cent), Buddhists (0.5 per cent) and other religions at (0.7 per cent).

The proportion of Christians residing in Redbridge in 2011 ranked fourth lowest in England and Wales, and 12 per cent below the London average of 48.4%. The number of Muslims in Redbridge has more than doubled since 2001. [30]

Religion1995 estimates [31]
Number%
Christian
No religion
Muslim
Religion not stated
Hindu
Jewish 16,0007.1%
Sikh
Other religion
Buddhist
Total100%

Transport

Walking and cycling

The Roding Valley Way is a designated walking and cycling route between Woodford and Ilford. [32]

Elizabeth line

Hainault Loop
BSicon uCONTg.svg
Roding Valley
BSicon ukSTRc2.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
BSicon lhSTRa@fq.svg
BSicon ukBHF3+l.svg
BSicon MSTR2+r.svg
BSicon uhkSTR2+r.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon uhkSTRc3e.svg
BSicon ukABZg+1.svg
BSicon MASKe.svg
BSicon MSTRq.svg
BSicon hkSTR-c1e.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon ukBHF+4.svg
Chigwell
Woodford
BSicon uBHF.svg
BSicon uTUNNEL1.svg
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon uLSTR.svg
BSicon uBHF.svg
Grange Hill
BSicon ulDST~F.svg
BSicon uSTR~L.svg
BSicon uBS2+l.svg
BSicon udSTR~R.svg
Hainault depot
BSicon ulDST~G.svg
BSicon uSTR~L.svg
BSicon uBS2l.svg
BSicon udSTR~R.svg
BSicon uBHF.svg
Hainault
BSicon uBHF.svg
Fairlop
BSicon uBHF.svg
Barkingside
BSicon uBHF.svg
Newbury Park
BSicon uSKRZ-G4u.svg
A12 (Eastern Avenue)
BSicon uSPLa.svg
BSicon lvKRZu+F-.svg
BSicon lv-KRZu+F.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon ulBHFc2.svg
BSicon utSPLg+3.svg
BSicon exSHI1l.svg
BSicon ulBHFc3.svg
BSicon ulBHFc2.svg
BSicon ulBHFc1.svg
BSicon ulBHFc3.svg
BSicon utSTR3+1.svg
BSicon exv-STR.svg
BSicon ulBHFc4.svg
BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon ulBHFc2.svg
BSicon uLSTR.svg
BSicon ulBHFc1.svg
BSicon ulBHFc3.svg
BSicon utSTR3+1.svg
BSicon ulBHFc4.svg
BSicon exv-STR.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
BSicon ulBHFc1.svg
BSicon utSPL+1.svg
BSicon ulBHFc4.svg
BSicon exdSTRc2.svg
BSicon exdSTR3.svg
BSicon lvKRZu+G-.svg
BSicon lv-KRZu+G.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
BSicon uSPLe.svg
BSicon exdSTRc2.svg
BSicon exSTR3+1.svg
BSicon exdSTRc4.svg
Ilford Curve closed 1947
Seven Kings Curve closed 1956
Leytonstone
BSicon uBHF.svg
BSicon exSTR+1.svg
BSicon exdSTRc4.svg
Central line
to Central London
BSicon uCONTf.svg
BSicon lDST~F.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon d-CONT3.svg
Junction now site
of Ilford Depot
BSicon dSTRc2.svg
BSicon STRl.svg
BSicon lDST~G.svg
BSicon ABZ3+gl.svg
BSicon HSTr+1.svg
BSicon dSTRc4.svg
Seven Kings
Ilford
BSicon dSTRc2.svg
BSicon BHF3+1.svg
BSicon dSTRc4.svg
BSicon dCONT1-.svg
BSicon dSTRc4.svg
RouteFrequency
Shenfield to London Liverpool Street 6 trains per hour
StationImageOpened [33] Notes [33]
Ilford Ilford station building2.JPG 20 June 1839
Seven Kings Wheelchair symbol.svg Seven Kings stn building.JPG 1 April 1899
Goodmayes Goodmayes station building.JPG 18 February 1901
Chadwell Heath Wheelchair symbol.svg Chadwell Heath stn building.JPG 11 January 1864

These services serving these stations were rebranded from TfL Rail to Elizabeth line in 2022.

London Underground

Central line: Epping Branch.

StationImageOpened [33] Notes [33]
Snaresbrook Snaresbrook station building.JPG 14 December 1947First opened by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1856
South Woodford Wheelchair symbol.svg South Woodford entrance east.JPG 14 December 1947First opened by the Eastern Counties Railway as South Woodford (George Lane) in 1856; renamed 1947
Woodford Wheelchair symbol.svg Woodford Station.jpg 14 December 1947First opened by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1856. Terminus of Hainault Loop

Central line: Hainault Loop (follows the route of the A12 from Wanstead to Newbury Park)

StationImageOpened [33] Notes [33]
Wanstead Wanstead station building northwest.JPG 14 December 1947
Redbridge Redbridge station entrance east.JPG 14 December 1947
Gants Hill Gants Hill stn southwest entrance.JPG 14 December 1947
Newbury Park Wheelchair symbol.svg Newbury Park Tube station.jpg 14 December 1947First opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1903
Barkingside Barkingside station building.JPG 31 May 1948First opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1903
Fairlop Fairlop station building.JPG 31 May 1948First opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1903
Hainault Wheelchair symbol.svg Hainault stn building.JPG 31 May 1948First opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1903. Closed 1908 to 1930.
Grange Hill Grange Hill stn entr.JPG 21 November 1948First opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1903
Roding Valley Roding Valley stn building.JPG 21 November 1948First opened by the London & North Eastern Railway in 1936

Buses

Ilford Hainault Street Bus Station, where nine different bus routes terminate. Ilford bus station - geograph.org.uk - 131968.jpg
Ilford Hainault Street Bus Station, where nine different bus routes terminate.

Numerous London buses run through and within the borough.

Travel to work

In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: driving a car or van, 23.5% all residents aged 16–74; underground, metro, light rail, tram, 18.4%; train, 6.2%; bus, minibus or coach, 4.6%; on foot, 3.7%; work mainly at or from home, 2.6%; passenger in a car or van, 1.5%. [34]

Education

Redbridge Council is the Local Education Authority. The Borough has the accolade of sending more young people to university than any other borough in the country in both 2011 and 2012. GCSE and A Level results are consistently higher than the Country's average. A 2017 report by Trust for London and the New Policy Institute found that Redbridge has the highest proportion of 19 year olds with Level 3 qualifications (equivalent to an A Level) of any London borough. [35]

All schools in the borough take part in the Redbridge Schools Choral Festival, a bi-annual music festival held in the Royal Albert Hall in Knightsbridge. [36]

Sport and leisure facilities

Redbridge has a number of sports and leisure facilities including the road and off-road cycling tracks at Redbridge Cycling Centre. [37]

There are two local football teams both playing in the Isthmian League Division One: Redbridge F.C. (not to be confused with Dagenham & Redbridge) and Ilford FC. In addition there is fellow Non-League football club Barkingside F.C. who play at The Oakside stadium. [38]

Valentines Park in Ilford acted as one of Essex County Cricket Club's home grounds in 1923-4 and from 1935 until 2002, when the club stopped playing there due to financial constraints. [39]

Local Media

The local newspaper is the Ilford Recorder.

Time 107.5 FM was a commercial radio station broadcasting nearby in Romford, to the local area, Time FM closed on 1st August 2025 becoming part of Nation Radio. [40]

Bedrock Radio is a local community radio service based in the nearby Queen's Hospital in Romford.

The first Hospital Radio service In Redbridge was founded in 1975 as Goodmayes Hospital Radio Association with studios located within the old Goodmayes Hospital building. In 1993, the station expanded it's coverage serving the neighbouring King George Hospital. In 2004 the station changed it's on-air name to The Jumbo Sound, as it began broadcasting online to sever other locations operated by NEFLT NHS Trust. In 2015 the station celebrated it's 40th anniversary, a burst radiator caused a flood in the studio, forcing the station off-air, volunteers agreed to merge with Bedrock Radio. The merge was completed In April 2016, creating a unified hospital radio service covering North East London. [41] .

Today, Bedrock Radio serves the local community by broadcasting online and served local hospitals of Queen's, King George & Goodmayes, Plus units and clinics locally. The station features information about the Hospitals, NHS services, promotes charitable and community organisations and has an extensive local events guide featuring community & non-profit events. Bedrock Radio also provides local news on-air covering East London and South Essex, the station has announced it will launch on a local DAB+ later in 2025.

Notable people

References

  1. "London Places" (PDF). Greater London Authority. GLA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  2. Mills, A., Dictionary of London Place Names, (2001)
  3. Great Britain Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Redbridge . Retrieved {{{accessdate}}}.
  4. Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN   0-901050-67-9.
  5. "The East London Boroughs (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993".
  6. "The East London Boroughs (London Borough Boundaries) (No. 2) Order 1993".
  7. "The Redbridge and Waltham Forest (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993".
  8. 1 2 "The Essex and Greater London (County Boundaries) Order 1993".
  9. "Claybury Woods and Park, including Repton Park". London Gardens Trust. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  10. Historic England, "Valentines Park (1000843)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 12 September 2017
  11. "Kenneth More Theatre". Vision RCL. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  12. "Redbridge Museum". Hidden London. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  13. "Redbridge Heritage Centre". Vision RCL. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  14. "Embassy Cinema: The Restoration Project". Chadwell Heath South Residents' Association. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  15. "Libraries, Heritage & Culture". visionrcl.org.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  16. "Redbridge Register Office (Redbridge Town Hall)". London Borough off Redbridge. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 "Population change 2001-2011". Office for National Statistics. 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  18. "Population statistics". Redbridge i. Redbridge Council. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  19. "2011 Census - Population". Redbridge i. Redbridge Council. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  20. "How long can you expect to live in 'Good' general health?". Office for National Statistics. 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "2011 Census - Diversity". Redbridge i. Redbridge Council. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  22. "Redbridge: Total Population". A Vision of Britain Through Time. Great Britain Historical GIS Project. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  23. Tim Butler, Chris Hamnett. "Ethnicity, class and aspiration". Policy Press. p. 66. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  24. Ethnicity in the 1991 census: Vol 3 - Social geography and ethnicity in Britain, geographical spread, spatial concentration and internal migration. Internet Archive. London : HMSO. 1996. ISBN   978-0-11-691655-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  25. Ethnicity in the 1991 census: Vol 3 - Social geography and ethnicity in Britain, geographical spread, spatial concentration and internal migration. Internet Archive. London : HMSO. 1996. ISBN   978-0-11-691655-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  26. "KS006 - Ethnic group". NOMIS. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  27. "Ethnic Group by measures". NOMIS. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  28. "Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  29. "Religion - Religion in England and Wales: Census 2021, ONS".
  30. "Redbridge Census Results". Office of National Statistics.
  31. "A PROFILE OF BRITISH JEWRY - 1995" (PDF). p. 12.
  32. "Roding Valley Way". Sustrans.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rose, Douglas (1999). The London Underground, A Diagrammatic History. London: Douglas Rose/Capital Transport. ISBN   1-85414-219-4. OCLC   59556887.
  34. "2011 Census: QS701EW Method of travel to work, local authorities in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 November 2013. Percentages are of all residents aged 16-74 including those not in employment. Respondents could only pick one mode, specified as the journey’s longest part by distance.
  35. "London's Poverty Profile". Trust for London. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  36. Redbridge Music Service - Redbridge Schools' Choral Festival
  37. "UK | England | London | Cycle centre 'first 2012 legacy'". BBC News. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  38. History Of Barkingside FC Barkingside F.C.
  39. "Valentine's Park". Cricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  40. "Time 107.5 to close today as Nation Radio London takes over". RadioToday. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  41. "Our History". Bedrock Radio. Retrieved 17 August 2025.

51°34′N0°05′E / 51.567°N 0.083°E / 51.567; 0.083