Redbridge’s population is set to explode by almost 50,000 in the next 10 years, according to new predictions.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) predict there will be 349,541 residents of Redbridge by 2026.

The estimate would see 46,000 more people living in the borough compared to the current figure of 303,570 – a 15.1 per cent increase.

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: “The council is working very hard to increase housing and is looking at a number of ways to encourage development in the borough.

“Like many other councils we suffered the impact on the development of housing due to conditions in the housing market brought about by the recession.

“Creating more homes, including affordable homes, is a priority for us and we know that it’s important to building a sustainable future for the borough.

“We must find sites for new housing but at the same time make sure development is as balanced as possible.

“As well as the Local Plan, we are also exploring new ways to work more closely with developers to find appropriate sites in the borough. For example, we have secured a Housing Zone which will deliver around 2,000 new homes in Ilford, including 500 affordable homes.”

He said the council aimed to provide 1,123 homes each year – 18,700 overall – between now and 2030 in its local plan, with mostly brown field sites identified for development.

The council will also allocate land for infrastructure, such as schools and doctors’ surgeries, and encourage them to come forward as part of mixed developments.

It will also use funding from Community Infrastructure Levies (CIL) to fund infrastructure improvements

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which plans health care in the borough, said it factored population growth into its plans.

“As you would expect, we work closely with the council and other partners to factor population growth into all of our plans for health services to meet the future needs of the area,” she said.

“We are also working with partners to put a business case forward to the government to develop an Accountable Care Organisation.

“This would allow us to work more flexibly and change how health and social care budgets are spent, so we could have a bigger impact on improving people’s health.”