West Ham have unveiled ambitious redevelopment plans for their award-winning Foundation headquarters, with the transformation set to generate £75million in social revenue.
The £4.1m state-of-the-art project, which is set to be completed in Spring 2025, will see the footprint of the current building treble, allowing the club to serve thousands of children, young people, adults, families, elderly residents and hard-to-reach groups and individuals.
The site promises to deliver a thriving Hub and safe space which is accessible and open to everyone, with the club set to double the 2,000 weekly participant footfall in the process.
West Ham’s vice-chair Baroness Karren Brady unveiled the plans at an event across dual sites at the London Stadium and Beckton, with MP’s, political leaders, community partners, representatives from the football world and club ambassadors all in attendance.
‘West Ham United is a family club, with deep roots in the capital, and what we are building here reflects our continued commitment to deliver a long-lasting Olympic legacy, in our community, the beating heart of east London,’ Brady said.
Baroness Karren Brady (centre) pictured at the London Stadium where she unveiled redevelopment plans for West Ham’s Foundation headquarters
The unveiling event was held across dual sites – Stratford’s London Stadium and Beckton
‘This multi-million-pound investment brings to life our vision of an inspirational environment, a triumph of innovation, dedication, and grit – all the values that West Ham United prides itself on.
‘The transformed site will generate over £75m in social value in its first five years of operation, through intervention, prevention and partnership.
‘Our Hub will deliver over 35 programmes, offering services that range from health and wellbeing, to violence reduction, to tech and digital learning – and an area particularly close to my heart, an enterprise zone, inspiring future business leaders and budding entrepreneurs.’
The redevelopment has spearheaded by West Ham United, alongside Borras Construction and Adams-Sutherland Architects, means the club will be the first to lead a consortium of local partners and networks, with significant financial backing from the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, working to prevent and tackle violence across Barking and Dagenham.
The project will cost £4.1m but it is estimated that it will generate £75m in social revenue
Carlton Cole (left) and James Collins (second right) were pictured at the Stratford event
Club captain Jarrod Bowen said: ‘We always speak about being a family as a Club, and I think this Hub shows the pride we all take in helping out our local community.
‘We’ve all got a responsibility – we’ve got a responsibility on the pitch, and this is a big commitment from everyone off the pitch.
‘It’s going to provide a fantastic safe space for so many people to flourish – the power of football is so strong.
‘I took part in a lot of community sessions when I was young, so this resonates with me, as I am sure it does with many players who have been on a journey throughout their careers.’
Reports released from EY and Future Proof demonstrated West Ham’s significant contribution to the local economy and their outreach efforts in the Borough of Newham, which was one of the hardest hit areas during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jarrod Bowen, pictured (left) with Michail Antonio, said: ‘We always speak about being a family as a Club, and I think this Hub shows the pride we all take in helping out our local community’
‘This football club understands the importance of its community,’ Foundation CEO Joseph Lyons said.
‘Make no mistake about it, this Hub is essential for east London. This will be a game-changer for the community in which we operate.
‘The opportunities the Hub will provide, for people of all ages, in a safe, state-of-the-art facility are endless, and we’re excited about seeing it all come to life over the coming months.’
