Dagenham Green given green light for first phase

The first phase of the development will be in the south-west corner of the site in the borough of Barking and Dagenham, next to Dagenham Dock railway station, and will serve as the gateway to the wider masterplan area which secured Outline Planning approval in March 2022.  

Award winning housebuilder The Hill Group has entered a joint venture partnership with Peabody to deliver the project, and will start work on the first phase early next year.

Delivered across multiple phases, the development will deliver more than 3,500 homes, 1,640 of which will be affordable tenures for local people to rent and buy. Phase one will bring forward just over a quarter of the total new homes, and of these 935 homes, 35 per cent of which will be affordable. 

Parks and play areas are a key feature in phase one, contributing to 10 acres of public realm and landscaping with 15,000 sqm of play space in the wider masterplan. This will include a heritage trail throughout the public realm and design representation in the buildings to honour the legacy of the Dagenham women who led the fight for equal pay through strikes in 1968 and 1984. 

Homes will be centred around these green open spaces, including a new urban park which will include a large pond to reflect the area’s waterside heritage with a boardwalk, framed by terraces, and open space. There will also be children’s play space inspired by the water and natural landscape, and a market square to connect Dagenham Green to the nearby Dagenham Dock railway station.  

There will also be more than 1,600sqm of non-residential space, with things to do and places for people to meet and spend quality time as well as new cycle and pedestrian routes to improve connectivity. 

James McMylor, Regional Managing Director of Development at Peabody, said: “This is an exciting step towards the creation of a vibrant and welcoming new community at the site of the former Ford stamping plant which has been made possible by a truly collaborative working with local people, the council and the Mayor of London. 

“Peabody is committed to ensuring that Dagenham Green community works for new and existing residents, many of whom have had their say about the proposals during consultation, helping us better understand the aspirations and needs of the local community.  

“The site will reflect the rich heritage of Dagenham, focusing on the natural landscape history, automotive history, and cultural history of the area. Phase one draws on inspiration from the marshland and will honour the legacy of the women who took part in the Ford sewing machinists’ strikes. 

“It’s really important for us to recognise and build on this history while delivering much needed new high-quality homes, new public realm and a variety of green spaces.” 

Andy Hill, Chief Executive for The Hill Group, said: “This major new project will have a transformative impact on the Dagenham area and create an exciting new community for East London. We look forward to leveraging our extensive experience and expertise in delivering high-quality large-scale regeneration projects to provide a scheme that the people of Barking and Dagenham can be proud of. We are also delighted to be further strengthening our partnership with Peabody, with whom we have an excellent track record of collaboratively delivering best-in-class urban developments.” 

Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Darren Rodwell said: “Where Fords once had their stamping plant, we will see new affordable homes and key facilities including a new Secondary School and medical centre at Dagenham Green. This is an exciting development, bringing more opportunities for local families along with the new film studios and the City of London's iconic markets coming to the borough. 

“This project from Peabody will also see more green spaces with the development of a new urban park, a children's play area and new cycle and pedestrian routes as we continue to make Barking and Dagenham a greener borough. 

“It's wonderful to see that the site's heritage will be embraced, ensuring the brave women involved in the 1968 Ford Machinists Strike are remembered for their role in delivering the landmark 1970 Equal Pay Act. I welcome these new homes, which will bring new life into this once historic site." 

Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Regeneration, said: “The Mayor and I are thrilled that this housing development is underway, which will see more than 3,500 new homes built in Dagenham Green - half of which will be affordable to rent or buy.  

“With soaring prices and a rental market that is under considerable strain, we need more high quality, genuinely affordable homes and this is a fantastic step towards building a better London for everyone.”  

Manisha Patel, Senior Partner at architects PRP, said: "We are delighted that Dagenham Green Phase 1 has been given the green light. Place making was central to the design, with high quality, distinctive architecture developed in collaboration with Pitman Tozer, Lyndon Goode and HTA leading on the landscape proposals.  

“This will bring forward the first phase transformation of the former brownfield site into a connected, new urban community centred around sustainable social amenity, active uses and public realm. The integrated approach to homes and open spaces will enhance health and wellbeing, encourage communities to stay together and cater to diverse needs by providing high-quality, innovative home typologies that can adapt to different lifestyles and changing family structures."