The Grade II listed Upminster windmill, such an icon of our area, is, according to English Heritage, 'slowly decaying', The energetic Friends group are well aware of this and in 2012 they obtained a grant of £128,920 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to progress plans to restore it to its former glory.

At the Havering Cabinet meeting in January it was agreed to make a new application to the HLF for £1,384,500 which, if obtained, will be spent on restoring the mill and building an education and training centre in the grounds. This funding would not be sufficient on its own but would be supplemented by a grant of £255,900 from the Veolia North Thames Trust and volunteer labour (valued at over £170,000 from the Friends of the Windmill. No council funding would be needed.

Work could be completed by late 2017 if all goes according to plan.