The development is taking place on brownfield land that was formerly occupied by Barking Power Station. Prior to being drained for industrial use, it was tidal marshland. The power station closed in 1981, with a concentration of National Grid pylons, overhead lines, cables and sub stations remaining.

In the early 1990s, the Department of Environment sought brownfield sites in the Thames Gateway area for development. The Barking project started as a public-private venture between the Greater London Authority, English Partnerships and developer Bellway Homes.^[3] National Power sold the land to Bellway Homes in 1994.^[5] The site has low land value, but the cost of converting it from industrial use caused Bellway to be concerned about profitability. Initially Bellway constructed 900 homes on the site between 1995 and 2000. Barking Riverside Ltd provided essential infrastructure such as roads, utilities and community facilities.

The site is in the London Riverside section of the Thames Gateway and was within the area of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC), established in 2004.

In 2004 Barking Riverside Ltd was formed as a joint venture of Bellway Homes and the Homes and Communities Agency (later replaced by GLAP) to deliver the project. Outline planning permission was granted in August 2007, with detailed consent for the first phases given in June 2009.^[6] Work started in 2010, and the first homes following the establishment of Barking Riverside Ltd were completed and occupied in 2012.^[7]

The development corporation was abolished in 2013 and responsibility passed to GLA Land and Property (GLAP), a subsidiary of the Greater London Authority (GLA). The project was jointly managed by the Homes and Communities Agency until its London operations were folded into the GLA in April 2012.^[8]

In 2016, L&Q bought Bellway's 51% stake in the scheme. It will deliver the new homes and infrastructure with the existing joint venture partner the GLA.^[4]

In 2017, the first three schools - Riverside School - opened in the area, serving primary, secondary and special needs students - all located on one campus on Renwick Road.^[9]

Toponymy edit

Barking is an ancient parish name, found in the Domesday Book of 1086. The appellation 'Barking Riverside' refers to the location adjacent to the River Thames. Initially the name Barking Reach was selected for the area.^[5]

The local authority is Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council. Since 2022, most of the development is within the Barking Riverside ward, which returns three councillors. Some western sections of Barking Riverside are in the Thames View ward, which returns two councillors. For elections to the London Assembly it is part of the City and East constituency. For elections to the UK Parliament it is within the Barking constituency.

As of 2015^[update], the two roads giving access to the development are still privately owned by the developers.^[3]

The 443 acres (1.79 km²) site has planning permission for 10,800 homes and is expected to have a population of approximately 26,000 people.^[10][11] It is located between the A13 road and Barking–Rainham railway line to the north and the River Thames to the south.^[12] It has 1.2 miles (1.9 km) of riverside frontage. The intention is to create three neighbourhood centres. To the north is the Thames View Estate and to the west is Creekmouth. To the south of Barking Riverside and over the River Thames is the large housing development of Thamesmead.

The Rivergate Centre, between Minter Road and Handley Page Road, is a community centre that houses halls for hire, the George Carey Primary School, the Rivergate Church and the Riverside School (secondary).^[13]

There is also a cafe, a pharmacy, and a beauty salon. The local grocery shop on Minter Road was taken over by Co-Op in 2020, re-opening in July 2020 after a refurbishment.^[14]

In phases 2 and 3 of the development, there is a provision for a new Health and Leisure Hub including a large family-friendly swimming pool and 150-station gym. This will also incorporate a GP surgery, leisure centre and various community spaces.^[15][16]

Bus edit

Barking Riverside is connected to Barking, Goodmayes, Ilford and Dagenham Dock and other places by the East London Transit bus rapid transit services EL1, EL2 and EL3.

Overground extension edit

As planning restrictions prevent more than 1,200 new homes being built before adequate transport links are in place,^[2] the area was to be served by an extension of the Docklands Light Railway, but this was cancelled in 2008.^[17] In 2014, it was announced that the London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking Line would be extended to Barking Riverside to allow the development to be completed as planned.^[3] The new station opened on 18 July 2022.^[18]

River services edit

On 22 April 2022 the river bus company Thames Clippers began serving an existing pier newly added to the London River Services network. Now called Barking Riverside Pier, it is situated on the north bank of the Thames in what will eventually become the district centre, a short distance from the new London Overground station. During the morning and evening peaks, and at weekends, Thames Clippers provides passenger river bus services on the RB1 route to Woolwich Arsenal, Canary Wharf and piers in central London.

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