The London Development Agency (LDA) will begin work on a community centre in Newham after its planning application was approved.

The new building will provide 500 sq m of recreational space and will include a shared garden with the existing Chandos Road Community Centre. It will also feature a new play area, two separate gardens for pre school and school children, a training room, a computer room and a café.

The building will have a string of environmentally friendly features such as a ground source heat pump, rainwater harvesting and terracotta self insulating brick work to retain heat.

The new centre will replace Newtown Community Centre in Major Road which made way for a new Travellers site called Parkway Crescent for families having to relocate from the Olympic Park. A large temporary community centre has been built as an interim replacement and it will remain in use until the new centre is opened in winter 2009.

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It is part of more than £2 million being invested in Chandos Road, Major Road and the surrounding areas to improve community facilities.

Andrew Gaskell, Senior Development Manager at the LDA, said: "We are committed to ensuring that the 2012 Games will improve people's lives and the new centre will be a valuable resource in bringing families and neighbours together.

"The building has been designed to high environmental standards. It will conserve energy and save money in the long run."

Newham Council will run the building when completed.

Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said: "We are using the Games to improve this borough for the better before, during and after 2012. This centre, and other proposed improvements for the area, is an important part of the legacy planning."

The LDA has been consulting with community centre users and Newham Council over the past 12 months about the new centre. This has been in addition to community drop in sessions.

(JM)