Barking Riverside Limited has taken a significant step towards the expansion of its development project, submitting one of the UK’s largest planning applications to date.
- The proposal seeks to dramatically increase the capacity of Barking Riverside, with plans for up to 20,000 homes now in the works.
- Previously, the development was limited to 10,800 homes, but this new application reflects a bold vision for growth.
- Strategic partnerships have been crucial to this initiative, involving key players such as the Mayor of London and housing associations.
- The development is being positioned as a potential national model for urban growth on brownfield sites.
In a notable move in the realm of urban development, Barking Riverside Limited, a collaboration between the Mayor of London and housing association L&Q, has submitted an ambitious planning application. The plan aims to expand the striking Barking Riverside project, which currently holds over 2,700 homes, to a total of approximately 20,000 homes. This development sits on a 443-acre brownfield site, previously home to the Barking Power Station in the 1920s, making it a modern reclamation project along the River Thames.
The strategic partnership behind this project has already catalysed significant investment, amounting to over £400 million. This capital injection has facilitated substantial infrastructure enhancements, including a new London Overground station and a pier for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Barking Riverside Limited’s managing director, Matthew Carpen, has heralded the investment as laying the groundwork for the proposed expansion, emphasising the transformative potential of these infrastructural improvements.
Fiona Fletcher-Smith, the chief executive of L&Q, underscored the broader societal relevance of the project, particularly in light of the UK’s ongoing housing and affordability crisis. She acknowledges the severe shortage of affordable housing and positions this project as part of a broader solution. The development is tailored to deliver aesthetically pleasing yet affordable homes on a large scale, contributing to a reduction in social inequality and enhancement of living standards.
Endorsing the initiative, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, highlighted Barking Riverside as a pioneering exemplar of new urban development within the capital. He praised the project’s comprehensive approach, integrating housing with essential public amenities such as new transport links, educational facilities, and green spaces, which altogether create a sustainable community framework. This model is suggested as an innovative blueprint for future developments across England, demonstrating a commitment to addressing housing needs through holistic planning.
The Barking Riverside expansion represents a significant milestone in urban development planning within the UK, embodying collaborative efforts to address housing demands and set the standard for future projects on formerly industrial sites.
