Barking Riverside could grow to almost 20,000 homes under new plans

Barking Riverside Limited (BRL) submitted a new outline planning application to Barking and Dagenham Council.

The new plans include 13,046 new homes of which 35 per cent would be ‘affordable’, as well as two large parks called Ripple Park and River Park which would be 50 acres and 19 acres respectively.

Also included in the latest plans are two more primary schools, a hotel, a communal care home, student accommodation and providing for future shops and businesses.

Primary health care facilities along with indoor sport, a creche and pre-school facilities have also been mentioned in planning documents.

If later approved by the council, the plans could eventually see 50,000 people living there.

Matthew Carpen, managing director of BRL, said: “Whilst Barking Riverside is a standout brownfield development that has already delivered vitally needed new homes, we also know places like Barking Riverside are truly about people and communities.

Two new parks are planned (Image: Barking Riverside Limited)

“As well as meeting the need for housing, with much of this being affordable, the new masterplan aims to maximise public benefit – both for the growing community here and the whole of east London.”

Barking Riverside currently has planning permission to build up to 10,800 homes on the 443-acre site, which was once home to the historic 1920s Barking Power Station.

So far 2,700 homes have been built on site while a further 1,000 homes are under construction – according to planning documents, 6,594 homes are expected to be delivered under current plans.

The development has also seen four new schools and an ecology centre built on site, as well as a new bus route, Barking Riverside Overground station and Thames Clipper transport services for residents.

BRL said the latest plans are an opportunity “to build on progress” and could see the total number of homes built on site to 19,640.

Barking Riverside is a joint partnership between housing association L&Q and London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Mr Khan said Barking Riverside was a “prime example” of a new town in London and “an inspiring model of how to fix our housing crisis”.

He added: “I’m determined to do everything in my power to continue boosting homebuilding across London, as part of my plan to build a fairer, more prosperous city for all Londoners.”

L&Q’s chief executive Fiona Fletcher-Smith praised Barking Riverside as a “solution” to the housing crisis.

She said: “We believe Barking Riverside could be a blueprint for brownfield development across the country. None of this would be possible without partnerships, from L&Q and the Mayor of London to the many others contributing to the success of this place.

“Delivering the proposed new homes and infrastructure will be a wonderful next step at this exciting new neighbourhood.”

A council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Barking and Dagenham is London’s biggest growth opportunity, and we are pleased that private sector and public sector partners recognise the many opportunities in the area.

“This application will be assessed through our regular planning process.”