A huge new town is set to be built – featuring 20,000 homes as well as hotels, shops and schools as part of efforts to tackle Britain’s housing problem.
The Barking Riverside project in east London has been given the green light, including 4,000 new properties earmarked for affordable housing, with 50,000 people potentially housed across the new development.
Among the features of the master plan are two public parks, three additional schools, a new health facility, commercial space, enhanced walking and cycling routes, and riverfront access.
Official figures in January showed that just 47,600 new homes have been built in the capital since Labour came to power in July 2024, out of 309,600 across England.
The capital’s figure was far short of the target of 88,000 new homes a year set by the Government to meet its objective of 1.5 million across the country by 2029.
Supporters of the recently approved scheme – including one of London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s deputies, Tom Copley – say it will provide not only much-needed new homes, but also schools, health centres, public parks and community spaces.
The latest proposals almost double the earlier granted allocation of 10,800 new homes across the 443-acre site.
Barking and Dagenham Council has officially approved the changes for outline planning.
Barking Riverside is a joint venture between London mayor, Sir Sadiq and housing association L&Q.
More than £170 million in grant and loan funding has been handed over in the past five years by the government agency Homes England.
The Labour government has updated planning rules, suggesting local objections should not stand in the way of houses on brownfield sites.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also been vehement in his criticism of ‘nimbys’ and ‘blockers’ – describing himself as a ‘yimby’, meaning ‘yes in my backyard’.
In its planning policy framework, Labour said brownfield schemes ‘should be approved unless substantial harm would be caused’.
Mr Copley, deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said of the newly approved plans: ‘Barking Riverside is one of the most significant and exciting housing developments not just in London but anywhere in the UK.
‘It is a fantastic example of a major brownfield regeneration, supported by City Hall and partners, which is delivering for the local community in this vibrant part of east London.
‘I welcome the news that the Barking Riverside story is set to enter its next phase, ensuring thousands of more high-quality and affordable homes for Londoners in the coming years as we continue to build a better and fairer capital for everyone.’
BRL managing director Leigh Johnson said: ‘This successful planning consent marks a genuine step change for Barking Riverside and for the role it can play in supporting local people.
‘The 4,000 affordable homes being delivered represent an opportunity for households to come off the housing waiting list and for local families to take their first step on the property ladder.’
L&Q’s group chief executive, Fiona Fletcher-Smith, said: ‘Delivering well-designed affordable homes and community infrastructure at scale at Barking Riverside represents our long-term plans to tackle the housing crisis in London.
‘We believe it could be a blueprint for brownfield development across the country.
‘This milestone reflects the ambition of the partnerships involved, from L&Q and the Mayor of London to the many others contributing to the success of the project.’
A London Overground station and an Uber Boat pier opened at the site in 2022.
They continue to build new homes and towns, but there will never be enough doctors, nurses, dentists, and schools. We don’t need more homes; we need fewer boat people.
It will all look very nice when it’s built, but I would imagine it will be a no-go area in about 5 years, if not before, with graffiti and vandalism all over the place, and what about when the river floods?
The sewers are massively struggling already, and the Thames is seeing more floaters – what will it smell like in the summer?
These flats might look lovely from the outside, but ultimately, all they will become is a dull block of flats and will become tenement slums, and they are building them on a flood plain – savvy move, maybe not!
Of course, nearby there will be the biggest mosque, and the ribbon will be cut by Starmer, and it seems like Labour is happy to stomp all over environmental protection and planning regulations in their rush to build, but where are the experienced workers going to come from to actually build the infrastructure?
Looking at the map, it’s essentially an extension of the Thames View estate, with a party frock, and how many homes will go to British people? – In this area, I would say none.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 