A team led by a young barrister are hoping to create Barking’s newest community space from a 120-year-old barge.
Moored on Barking’s River Roding, the Vriendschap, a 50 metre Dutch cargo boat, dates back to 1889 and is set to be converted into an environmentally friendly community and events space. The project is headed by Paul Powlesland, a 32-year old who has spent much of his life around boats.
In order to see his vision become reality, the barrister has put his career on hold, and paid £15,000 out of his own pocket to save the barge from being scrapped in 2017. What is more, the project receives no Government funding and is being paid for out of team’s personal savings.
Mr Powlesland hopes to cover the future costs of running the community space, which will be free to use, through the incorporation of housing via seven bedrooms, which will be available at 50 per cent of the market value.
Ensuring that the barge maintains a low impact upon the environment, energy and heating will be provided by a combination of solar panels and lithium batteries, while rain water will be collected and purified and the bathrooms fitted with composting toilets.
The team are hoping to moor the barge permanently next to Town Quay, which is set to open in the near future.
Speaking on the merits of his project, Mr Powlesland said: “We want to make this a base for people doing good in the world. Come and use this space.
“The creek really belongs to the people of Barking. Let’s create more community down here and make Barking a more wonderful place to live.”
