Planning consent issued at Barking Riverside

Barking Riverside Ltd, the joint venture company between Bellway plc and national regeneration agency English Partnerships, has announced the receipt of planning consent following the signing of the Section 106 agreement (S106) with the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. This significant milestone for the project will kick-start the delivery chapter of 10,800 new homes at Barking Riverside, the Thames Gateway’s biggest strategic housing project.

The planning approval, the largest ever in the UK, includes all four development stages, each of which will be progressed so that community facilities and transport infrastructure can be brought forward and delivered at the same time as new housing. This will ensure that Barking Riverside evolves and grows, with each development stage meeting the main objective of creating a sustainable community.

The S106 agreement guarantees the provision of at least 30 per cent family accommodation and that 41 per cent of the total habitable rooms are allocated as affordable housing. The planning consent recognises the importance of providing high quality public realm and environmental benefits, with 40 per cent of the site designated as open space. In addition, access to 2km of the river Thames will be opened up to the public, a prominent feature of the scheme.

Barking Riverside will also adopt recent guidelines from the Mayor of London on reducing carbon emissions for residential developments compared with the levels at traditional housing schemes.

Earth works have already commenced on site. Detailed designs for the first two stages of the development comprising 4,000 new homes are now being prepared following the selection of KCAP-ML and Sheppard Robson as preferred design partners and will be submitted for planning approval to the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation during the next six months.

Bellway Director of Barking Riverside, Roger Bond, said: “This agreement marks the start of the delivery phase at Barking Riverside following a vital period of negotiation with the planning authority. This has resulted in a foundation and long-term strategy for creating a sustainable community.

“This holistic approach to the development of the site will ensure that social and community facilities and vital transport infrastructure are delivered at Barking Riverside at the same time as a wide range of new high quality housing that meets the highest of environmental standards and helps reduce carbon emissions.”

Judith Armitt, Chief Executive of the Thames Gateway said: “Barking Riverside offers a unique opportunity to regenerate and bring back to life a key area of the Thames Gateway. The creation of these new communities will open up 2km of previously inaccessible riverfront and embrace of the biodiversity of the area.


“In addition the agreement provides a commitment to new transport infrastructure and sustainable energy measures that will make this development a focal point in the Thames Gateway.”

Stephen Oakes, Area Director at English Partnerships said: “We have worked in partnership on this project with Bellway Homes since the formation of the joint venture. This successful partnership approach has been extended to other stakeholders and agencies to achieve planning consent on one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK In particular, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has invested an enormous amount of time and effort into delivering this massive project in their area.

“The partnership between the public and private sector must continue in order to deliver the new sustainable community at Barking Riverside which we all aspire to.”

Cllr Sidney Kallar, Executive Member for Regeneration at the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham said: “This is great news for the people of Barking and Dagenham, guaranteeing them a stake in one of the south-east’s largest development projects.

“I know that we have been talking about Barking Riverside for several years now and I understand why local people are keen to seen work start. I would like them to know that we have been working hard over the last few years to get the plans right and make sure that they offer local people the best deal we can get for them.

“With this agreement signed, they can be assured that work will get underway quickly, and that they will soon be able to benefit from the transformation of the south of our borough.”