Plans to redevelop a 1960's estate in east London have a taken a major step forward with a key appointment.

Wates Residential has been selected to deliver the £55 million project, which will see a part of the estate transformed into 200 new homes. Around 40% of the new properties will be affordable.

This work forms part of Phase One of the Gascoigne Estate West project in Barking.

Wates secured the contract through the pioneering £1 billion Be First Development Framework which is designed to accelerate development and growth in the borough, and deliver thousands of affordable homes for local people.

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The contractor will also deliver a significant investment in education, skills and training through the project. The team will include a minimum of 20% of local people, creating at least 20 jobs and addressing the skills shortage with a wider education programme that will run through local schools from year 6 upwards.

They will also promote job vacancies to those who currently face barriers to employment, in addition to providing work experience placements and careers advice sessions, as well as a number of apprenticeships in key traditional areas including bricklaying, and carpentry, as well as in business administration.

The developer will also upskill the workforce by helping staff gain qualifications including NVQs and industry certificates.

Work is expected to start on Phase One of the Gascoigne Estate West project in February 2020.

(CM/JG)