£350m urban-village in Barking gains planning

Weston Homes and the Estates & Agency Group have received a Resolution to Grant planning permission for the £350m regeneration of Abbey Retail Park in Barking

The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham has granted Resolution to Grant planning permission to transform Abbey Retail Park into a new £350m (GDV) riverside urban-village

To devise a development that meets the needs of the local community and economy of Barking, Weston Homes has undertaken comprehensive local community consultation; and has worked closely with the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham and Be First.

Covering over 1,190,100 sq ft ‘Abbey Quays’ will provide 1,089 new homes of mixed tenure and 22,281 sq ft of commercial/leisure space.

Once a ‘Section 106’ legal agreement between the applicant and the council is completed, planning permission can be issued.

One of the biggest urban renewal projects in East London, Abbey Quays will front directly onto the River Roding and is bordered by London Road and Abbey Road, where it overlooks the Abbey Green public open space.

Masterplanned and designed by architectural practice Broadway Malyan, Abbey Quays consists of contemporary buildings including a reception-hub and pavilion building, designed around the riverfront and new public and communal spaces.

The 1,089 homes will consist of 737 private sale apartments and penthouses and 352 (35% of all habitable rooms) provided as affordable housing including affordable rent, shared ownership and discount market-sale tenures.

The development has a comprehensive ecology strategy focused on providing attractive and biodiversity-rich greenery including landscaped areas, newly planted trees, hedges and other plantings. The development will introduce 27 different species of plants and flowers including roses, violets, periwinkles, and the new trees will including birch, crab apple, Oak and lime species.

At night, a lighting scheme including building wash lighting, feature column lights and wayfinding spotlighting in the paving and communal gardens will illuminate the pedestrian boulevards, squares and riverside walkway.

Bob Weston, chairman & chief executive of Weston Homes, said: “The regeneration of this important Gateway site into a new waterfront urban-village adjacent to Barking Town Centre forms part of the Borough Council’s vision of bringing aspirational waterfront living to Barking.

“The £350m ‘Abbey Quays’ is one of the biggest urban renewal projects in East London, delivering striking new buildings, riverside public spaces, inward investment and job creation. The regenerated site will provide much needed affordable local housing for local Londoners, further enhance the local community and complement the existing centre.”