Proposals have been put forward to seek funding for major improvements to shop fronts in Leyton

Regeneration consultants Regenfirst, hired by the Waltham Forest Business Board, put the proposals before the the Leyton Enterprise Forum at a meeting on September 7.

A report from the meeting states: “Whilst huge resources are being put into the Olympics in the run up to 2012 many areas of East London have a relatively poor environment that does not sit well with the new development within the Olympic Park.

“One initiative that has the ability both to improve the image of east London for the Olympics and provide a meaningful legacy is a package of environmental improvement including façade grants.”

Possibilities for improvement include new shutters and measures to help deter vandalism, as well as repairs to buildings and removal of 'street clutter'.

The project is set to cost upwards of £3m and funding for similar projects has come from initiatives such as the Single Regeneration Budget and partnerships between councils and English Heritage.

It was noted at the meeting that the council has already spent more than £1million refurbishing Leyton library and that other groups had also spent £14m on Leyton Municipal Offices.

However, Michael Polledri, chair of the Waltham Forest Business Board, is set to work with Fawaad Shaikh, of e11bid to seek funding from the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Mr Polledri has described the project as 'the last opportunity to improve Leyton town centre before the Olympics'.

The report added: “Grants for the improvement of buildings are a tried and tested method of encouraging building owners to improve their properties and thus contribute to wider regeneration aims in a specific area.

“This approach is evidenced by a large number of successful schemes carried out in a many areas using a wide variety of funding.”

A total of eight areas are to be taken into consideration for improvement and a consultation is set to take place with shop owners and freeholders in the next month.