This part of Hornchurch is a quiet suburban neighbourhood with plenty to offer. Serviced by two tube stations - Hornchurch and Upminster Bridge – the area has been attracting not just families but also some young professionals looking to buy the ir first homes without jeopardising their commute. Since the area has many affordable but well maintained post-war houses, it’s no surprise that it’s begun to draw in more people. For families moving to the area, they’re spoiled by the lo cal Scott’s Primary School, which recently received an “outstanding” rating from Ofsted. For a quiet suburb, Hornchurch has lots going on throughout the weekend though! If visiting on a Saturday, you’ll find locals enjoying the 104-hectare Hornchurch Country Park, catching up over high tea at Tea Island, and enjoying hand crafted cocktails at Vertigo Lounge.

Hornchurch Country Park is an anchor within the community. Before it was a park though, it
was Sutton’s Farm. Later on, in 1915, the Royal Air Force used the land as a military airfield. During the First World War, planes stationed in the airfield shot down the first Zeppelin of the war. Following
1918, the airfield was shut down and went back to functioning as a farm. This didn’t last for long though. By 1922, it had been converted back into an airfield. In 1939, Spitfire Squadrons arrived on site, and were eventually quite successful throughout the Second World War. In 1962, the airfield eventually closed and was reopened as a park by the borough of Havering.

At the time that Upminster Bridge tube station was built, bizarrely there was a marble swastika design
on the entry floor. For obvious reasons, London Transport (current day TfL) removed the design in the 1930s. Despite the area still offering relatively affordable family homes, prices have been going up in the past couple of years. Locals see these rising property values as proof that their idyllic suburb is as desirable as they think it is.

The second phase of Bellway Homes’ development in the area, on the site of the former St. George’s Hospital, is expected to begin soon. In 2021, they announced that works are anticipated for the construction of 162 homes as part of this phase. It also sold 142 of the 150 private homes completed in the first phase, with 107 homeowners already moved in. These include two, three, four and five-bedroom houses as well as one and two-bedroom apartments. Twenty-seven of the phase two homes have also been bought, according to the developer. The project also represents an investment of more than £1.7 million in infrastructure and facilities in the surrounding area, including more than £1.5million financial contributions to benefit schools in Hornchurch, £150,000 of Section 106 contributions to go towards Hornchurch Country Park and £20,000 towards cycle storage facilities at Hornchurch underground station.