Returning to a story from March, the major redevelopment of the former Abbey Retail Park in Barking town centre took one step closer to fruition, as Weston Homes agreed to the purchase of the land.
The former shopping centre, which overlooks the Abbey Green and the River Roding is set to become a 1,000 home development, incorporating new retail and leisure space, at a cost of £300 million.
Now the sale of the land has been agreed, the intention is for Weston Homes, who was also responsible for the nearby Rivermill Lofts development, to submit its completed planning application in the summer.
Weston Homes’ chief executive and chairman, Bob Weston, said: “The regeneration of this important gateway site into a new waterfront urban village adjacent to Barking town centre forms part of the borough council’s vision of bringing aspirational waterfront living and regeneration to Barking.
“The Abbey Retail Park is within the so-called ‘Barking Smile regeneration zone’ and the redevelopment of the site will create a vibrant new community in Barking, contributing to the area’s ongoing transformation. Attracting new people and inward investment, this new residential destination for Barking will provide private sale homes and much needed affordable housing for local people and families on lower household incomes.”
Cllr Darren Rodwell, the leader of Barking & Dagenham Council, said of the prospective project: “This is great news and while we would need more detail, it is another sign Barking and Dagenham is booming.
“It also dovetails into our wider plans to create a vibrant waterside community there – a king of Roding Riviera for ordinary Londoners.”
