Hundreds of new flats have been given the go-ahead in the latest phase of a planned 20,000 “new town” in east London.
The 651 new homes will be built across twelve blocks in River Road, Barking, as part of the wider redevelopment of thousands of homes for the major Barking Riverside development.
💬 City Voices: London needs more new towns to hit housing targets
Councillors on Barking and Dagenham Council's planning committee approved the latest housing scheme at a meeting on Tuesday.
A planning statement on behalf of developer L&Q explained the flats would form a "high-quality" development with a "high standard of residential accommodation".
Plans approved by councillors say that of the 651 new homes, 207 of them would be one-bed flats, 281 would be two-beds and 163 would be three-beds.
Of the total new homes, 30% would be social housing, and 28% of them let at 'London Living Rent' levels.
John Cutler of L&Q told the commitee that this would make up a "valuable affordable housing offer".
Labour comittee member Donna Lumsden asked why none of the new homes would be four-bed homes.
Planning officer Ben Farrant replied that the original, outline plans approved previously didn't include a requirement for four bed homes. He said the more detailed plans the committee had to consider complied with this.
The Barking Riverside development aims to deliver up to 20,000 new homes in total.
London Mayor Mr Khan has previously described the City Hall-backed scheme as a “model for how to fix our housing crisis” and “a blueprint” for national Government to follow.
Mr Khan said: “Barking Riverside is a prime example of a new town in London, a pioneering partnership delivering thousands of new homes for Londoners.
“It’s an inspiring model of how to fix our housing crisis, with new public transport connections, schools, green spaces and a town centre making this a blueprint for how the next generation of English new towns could work.”
Overall, outline plans were approved in 2018, but more detailed, "reserved matters" plans have to be approved before each phase can go ahead.
Committee members voted to approve the plans unanimously.
