Decision to increase development to 20,000 homes comes despite nearby residents and councillors questioning whether the site can take thousands more residents, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans that would double the size of the Barking Riverside development to 20,000 homes have been approved by councillors.
New plans for the area, where thousands of homes have already been built, aim to increase its density, mostly through taller buildings.
Some nearby residents and councillors have questioned whether the site could take thousands more residents, however.
Matt Scott, of the Thames Life Community Development Trust, told councillors: “We don’t believe the development in its current form can or will work.”
Barking Riverside, on the north bank of the River Thames, is a joint project between the Greater London Authority and property developer London and Quadrant.
Work on the development began in 2010, although it has gone through several alterations. The most recent plans, approved in 2018, allow for up to 10,800 homes to be built on site in total.
Of these, some 3,000 homes have been built, and approximately 5,000 more have final approval to go ahead.
However, Barking and Dagenham Council’s Local Plan – which shapes development across the borough – states the site can take up to 20,000 homes.
Barking Riverside Ltd submitted new outline plans to build 13,048 homes on the land that is still undeveloped. A council planning officers’ report said this would take the total number of homes on the development to 20,000.
Officers told a planning committee on Monday (16th) that “an increase in building heights is the main method through which this can be achieved”.
Some councillors on the committee challenged developers over the lack of healthcare facilities for homes that are already on site.
The 2018 plans included a health hub – but its construction has been delayed due to “viability challenges” according the planning officers’ report. A temporary hub is set to open this summer.
Labour councillor Sabbir Zamee, who represents neighbouring Thames View ward, said his area was “suffering” because of the increased demand on its health services.
He told developers: “We are next to you – Thames View is suffering day by day because of you, you’re growing.
“The people are suffering in Thames View. Their GP is not giving appointments.”
Green Party councillor Faruk Choudhury also challenged the plans, and warned of increased traffic. He said: “There’s very bad traffic now. Before, Barking was a very nice place. Now after four o’clock everywhere is packed.”
Matt Scott of Thames Life Community Development Trust said the delayed health hub cast doubt on the development plan.
He said: “If there’s no health centre after 20 years amid some of the highest mortality rates in the country, let alone London, how do you seriously expect this model to credibly support thousands more residents?”
However, Barking Riverside managing director Leigh Johnson said the plans would mean more homes for people struggling to find housing.
Johnson said: “This will be transformational for those in the borough who are struggling to find housing.”
She added it would “make a real difference to the families and their households who come to you as councillors asking for help”.
Barking Riverside’s representatives also said the NHS was responsible for providing clinics. However, they said they had worked with the council and the NHS to find a solution.
They said this included “extra bits of health infrastructure” such as the interim health hub and pop-up clinics.
One said: “We do care about this, we recognise it’s an issue and we are committed to finding solutions even when we’re not obligated to.”
A Barking Riverside resident, Blythe Smith, echoed developers’ comments.
She said: “Barking Riverside is one of the largest regeneration sites in the capital and opportunities to plan and deliver a completely new neighbourhood at this scale are extremely rare.”
Committee chair and Labour councillor Muhammed Salim praised the development. He said it had been an “amazing transformation of the area”.
The committee voted to approve the plans, with only Cllr Choudhury against.
