Plans for more green spaces in the condensed inner city neighbourhoods of London’s East End have been given a £1 million boost by local Town Hall bosses.

East London Advertiser: First historic meeting of Spitalfields Neighbourhood Forum at Christchurch Vestry after its recognition by Tower Hamlets CouncilFirst historic meeting of Spitalfields Neighbourhood Forum at Christchurch Vestry after its recognition by Tower Hamlets Council (Image: Archant)

The cash has been agreed by Tower Hamlets council’s cabinet to “green up” shabby areas which have seen decades of urban decline, to create a healthier environment for families.

Council cabinet member Amy Whitelock Gibbs said: “Research now shows that having more parks and recreational areas can help improve people’s mental health and increase physical activity.”

The area is already one of the worst in London for pollution, with four local schools high on the list of children affected by bad air, according to City Hall air quality figures.

So Tower Hamlets council wants projects like planting saplings in Spitalfields along Buxton Street, next to Brick Lane’s famous Old Truman’s Brewery, to create an environmentally-friendly “avenue of trees”.

East London Advertiser: Andrew Street in Poplar... council aims to turn tarmac next to A12 Blackwall Tunnel Approach into grass with trees [photo: Google]Andrew Street in Poplar... council aims to turn tarmac next to A12 Blackwall Tunnel Approach into grass with trees [photo: Google] (Image: Google)

It comes after requests from the newly-recognised Spitalfields Neighbourhood forum which is currently looking for more open land to create publicly-protected green spaces.

The council’s plans also include extending Jolly’s Green alongside the A12 Blackwall Tunnel Approach in Poplar by replacing tarmac and paving at the closed end of Andrew Street cul-de-sac, off St Leonard’s Road, with a porous surface and trees.

A ‘pocket park’ is being created along the Limehouse Cut connecting the A12 at Bromley-by-Bow with Twelvetrees Crescent near Bow School.

Local GP Sir Sam Everington, who chairs the NHS Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning group, said: “The new green spaces will have a major impact on people’s sense of health and wellbeing.”

The funds come from contributions by developers with recent housing developments which is being used to invest in schools, health services and public spaces.