Council grants planning permission for biggest housing scheme in the Thames Gateway

Bellway Homes and English Partnerships have won permission to build the Thames Gateway’s biggest single housing development.

Barking and Dagenham council’s development control board voted last night to grant outline planning permission for the 10,800 home scheme.

The Labour Party controlled board voted by nine votes to two to approve the Barking Riverside scheme, being promoted by a joint venture between Bellway and EP, which will regenerate a 179 ha former power station site between the A13 and the River Thames.

As well as homes, the Barking Riverside Ltd (BRL) joint venture is also proposing workspace, bars, restaurants and shops to serve the development.

But the council has told the BRL that the construction of the scheme must be staggered in line with improvements to the site’s transport facilities. The key projects are an upgrade of the A13, an extension of the Dockland Light Railway (DLR) to Dagenham Dock and a new guided bus service.

Barking council approved the scheme after receiving assurances from London mayor Ken Livingstone earlier this year that he would ensure funding is provided for the DLR extension.