The former Newham City Farm has a long history as a community farm and green asset. The vision now is for an experienced, collaborative consortium to reimagine the space as a Community Farm and Green Skills Hub, delivering lasting social, environmental and economic value for local residents and the wider borough.
This opportunity calls for a team with a diverse range of skills that will enable the design, delivery and operation of a vibrant, innovative and self-sustaining hub for the community. The site is expected to support green skills training, urban agriculture, education, volunteering, wellbeing programmes and community engagement.
Newham is one of the most culturally diverse boroughs in England which provides an opportunity for a consortium to be formed that is representative of the local community, with strong participation and co-design skills that centre lived experience.
The Council are particularly keen to hear from partnerships that can demonstrate:
- A strong, inclusive vision aligned with the Council’s Growth Plan and Community Wealth Building priorities, which includes a bold blueprint for inclusive, green, and innovative economic development
- Meaningful community involvement and long-term local stewardship
- A robust and financially sustainable operating model
This could provide a really impactful opportunity for people from, or representing those from, marginalised and underrepresented backgrounds to manage space and land in the borough.
In 2022, Sustain produced a discussion document on community wealth building through food and farming and hosted a webinar on the topic, which could be of use to potential applicants.
A full information pack, including detailed site information and the Expression of Interest submission requirements, is available on request to interested parties. The deadline for proposals is 28 February 2026. For more information email regeneration@newham.gov.uk.
For more information on creating partnerships on systemic changes within the local food system, check out Sustain's local action work.
