Our Community
The community at Barking Riverside is vibrant and ever-evolving. It is comprised of:
Existing residents: with current population figures indicating that 6,000 people already live at Barking Riverside between Rivergate and Northgate, the immediate community is young, diverse, and active. Even at this early stage of the development, residents are playing a fundamental role in shaping community life. Their needs, partnership, spirit, and history are the cornerstones of the community.
Prospective residents: if the new Outline Planning Application is approved, the final population of Barking Riverside would be approximately 45,000 people. The vast majority of these residents do not live here yet, but, over the coming years, will set down roots at Barking Riverside when they move to the vitally needed new homes that are being delivered. it is paramount that BRL considers the wants and needs of this incoming population.
Neighbouring residents: the substantial growth and investment at Barking Riverside should have a positive social impact for residents living in areas like Barking Reach, Thames View and Scrattons Farm. In delivering up to 65,000m2 of non-residential amenities, those in the Borough who live south of the A13 are likely to consider Barking Riverside as their nearest “centre”, even if they do not live within the development itself. BRL will consider the impact and opportunities for these communities in delivering Barking Riverside.
School children: with up to seven schools planned for delivery, a defining characteristic of the Barking Riverside community will be the energy of its young people. Demographic work commissioned by BRL indicates that 3,000 of Barking Riverside’s current population of 6,000 are below the age of 15. Eventually, the majority of the pupils attending the schools will live at Barking Riverside, but both now and in the future, there will be pupils who travel here every day to access an outstanding education.
Community organisations: across Barking Riverside and neighbouring communities, there is a network of established and influential community groups, who play an important role in advocating for local people and shaping priorities. By engaging with residents, as well as delivering vitally needed third-sector services, community organisations are valued partners in delivering Barking Riverside.
Local businesses and workforce: the investment in Barking Riverside should create a local economy that will attract a diverse range of businesses. This will likely include small entrepreneurs – many of whom may live at Barking Riverside or the neighbouring communities. In addition to this, it is hoped that commercial partners from further afield are attracted by the vision, leveraging even more choice and opportunity for Barking Riverside’s residents.
Visitors: although meeting the needs of residents will remain BRL’s first priority, parts of Barking Riverside are designed to create a sense of destination. Through BRL’s events, retail, leisure, hospitality, and cultural offerings, it is hoped that visitors from across the capital will come an experience Barking Riverside – in turn delivering increased viability and vibrancy for the immediate community.
Thames Futures
Effective placemaking is underpinned by comprehensive engagement and partnership. To ensure that the vision for Barking Riverside could be shaped by the community, in 2019 BRL created Thames Futures.
Delivered in partnership with the Young Foundation and a team of resident “Peer Researchers”, Thames Futures is the bespoke social impact assessment framework for Barking Riverside. Informed by over 1,000 engagements with residents across Barking Riverside, and the surrounding communities. Thames Futures is a research project that both defines a community vision for the future of Barking Riverside, whilst also clearly detailing how the development can have a positive social impact on the outcomes and priorities that matter most to local people.
Refreshed annually to ensure the vision can evolve and grow with the arrival of incoming residents, Thames Futures sets out nine aspirations for the future of Barking Riverside. These are:
1. Keep me connected with my neighbours.
2. Be somewhere my voice is heard and acted upon.
3. Improve my health and wellbeing.
4. Be a safe place for me and my neighbours.
5. Make it easy for me to get where I need to go.
6. Be a place I’m proud to call home.
7. Support me to achieve my potential.
8. Be somewhere my friends and family are excited to spend time.
9. Love and care for its natural and outdoor spaces.
BRL is committed to ensuring that the development of Barking Riverside can secure the nine vision areas listed above.
What makes Barking Riverside unique?
| Unrivalled location on the banks of the River Thames | There are few places that can offer such a truly unique and iconic location as Barking Riverside. Sitting on the banks of the River Thames, the neighbourhood stretches across 2km of south-facing river frontage, which is being brought back to life with riverside walking, running and cycling routes, as well as a busy programme of outdoor events. |
| Scale & ambition | The Barking Riverside development is one of the largest and most ambitious residential developments in Europe. Situated on 443 acres of brownfield land, this area is larger than the whole of Hyde Park. The scheme has submitted a new outline planning application to deliver up to 20,000 homes and 65,600 sqm of non-residential uses for a community of up to 50,000 people, making this the second largest development site in London and the largest under single ownership. |
| Excellent transport services and connections | Barking Riverside offers excellent transport connections, featuring a new Overground station and river bus pier, both providing fast and convenient links to London and beyond. The local area is well-served by 24-hour bus services, and a growing network of cycling and walking routes. |
| Innovation approach to partnerships | Barking Riverside is delivered by the master developer Barking Riverside Ltd (BRL), a joint venture between housing association L&Q and the Mayor of London. BRL unites diverse partners around a long-term sense of purpose, working collaboratively with key stakeholders such as Homes England, Barking and Dagenham Council, Transport for London, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and residents. |
| Award winning projects that give residents a voice | BRL ensures the partnership with the local community is meaningful through a series of social impact projects, most notably the Thames Futures research framework. The Barking Riverside Community Interest Company (CIC) is an industry benchmark, creating resident-led legacy vehicle that will be in charge of managing the estate in the future. |
| An active and diverse community | Barking Riverside is home to a diverse and welcoming community, that is invested to making this the best place it can be. Residents actively shape their social environment, creating a deep sense of purpose, belonging, and pride. |
| A rolling calendar of action-packed events | Events play an essential role at Barking Riverside, uniting the community and showcasing its vibrancy to a wider audience. From art exhibitions to makers workshops, outdoor cinemas, and large-scale festivals like Emerge East, a rolling calendar of ever-changing events celebrates the creative nature of Barking Riverside, appealing. |
| An outstanding choice of education | Barking Riverside has an enviable choice of educational facilities – five schools, encompassing two primary schools, an Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” secondary school, and two Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools. There are two private nurseries and a preschool on-site, with two more schools in plan. |
| Unique ecology | The Barking Riverside foreshore is a great place to spot wildlife, such as the Grey Seal, often found sunbathing on the mud flats, as well as several species of wading birds. BRL works with ecologists in order to preserve and enhance the ecology, and several dedicated wildlife habitats have been established to support the rich flora and fauna of the area. |
| A commitment to sustainability | Barking Riverside is committed to innovative and sustainable practices, with a focus on promoting green behaviours. One example of this is the Envac waste collection system, which has reduced air pollution generated by waste collection vans by 90% as well as quadrupled household recycling rates. Most significantly, greener and cleaner modes of transport have been prioritised within the masterplan, all of which contribute to reducing emissions by decreasing private vehicle journeys. |
| A smart investment | By providing East London with new, vitally needed homes, Barking Riverside offers an attractive opportunity for home buyers seeking a balance between good value for money and potential value for growth. |