Fewer than half of people living in Newham say the borough is a good place to grow older, a council survey has revealed.
The findings come as Newham's older population is set to grow by around 21 per cent over the next five years. Labour mayor Forhad Hussain said he wanted Newham "to be a borough where people can age well."
The survey, carried out by Newham Council between November and December 2025, asked 1,523 residents whether they thought the borough was a good place to grow older. It found that only 49 per cent agreed, with sharp disparities between different parts of the borough.
While 66 per cent of those surveyed in Stratford and West Ham agreed, the figure fell to just 39 per cent in neighbouring Forest Gate and 41 per cent in Custom House and Canning Town. Half of people in East Ham felt Newham was a good place to grow older, rising to 53 per cent in Plaistow and in Beckton and the Royal Docks. In the centre of the borough, around Green Street, only 45 per cent agreed, falling to 40 per cent in Manor Park.
Mairead Ryan, a policy, research and partnerships manager at the council, presented the findings to the town hall's health and wellbeing board on Monday 29 June. She suggested the differences could reflect the age make-up of each area.
The number of Newham residents aged 65 and over is predicted to grow by 21 per cent between 2026 and 2031. But Ryan said separate data showed that in Canning Town and Custom House the increase is expected to reach 52.6 per cent between 2024 and 2031.
"Perhaps there are fewer older people in Stratford and West Ham, for example," she said. "It might be older people who are saying that Newham is a less good place to grow older."
She added that further work such as focus groups and interviews might shed more light on the findings.
The Newham Residents Survey also found that the cost of living and health services were among residents' top concerns. It said 44 per cent of those surveyed were "just about getting by financially," 9 per cent were "finding it very or quite difficult," and 4 per cent had skipped a meal in the previous two months because of financial hardship.
Speaking to the board, Hussain said he wanted to improve the borough's health services but also take steps to keep residents in good health.
"I want Newham to be a borough where people can age well, where older and disabled members of our community are supported to live independently in their own homes as long as possible," he said.
"Good health starts with good housing, secure employment, safer neighbourhoods and connected communities.
"Prevention will always sit at the heart of everything that my administration does, whether that means supporting people with debt through our money advice service, expanding social prescribing, improving mental health support or helping residents live healthier lives through better nutrition, access to sports and community wellbeing programmes."
