A £55 million project which will see over 200 new homes brought to Barking has reached a key project milestone.

Barking and Dagenham Council leader Cllr Darren Rodwell and Managing Director of Be First Pat Hayes joined together with Wates Residential Operations Director, Adrian Fennessy and construction site representatives to celebrate the beginning of demolition on the west side of the Gascoigne Estate.

This major scheme will see part of the 1960s estate redeveloped into a modern, environmentally friendly community, including 201 new homes, of which 60 per cent will be affordable. The plans include 89 one-bedroom, 88 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom homes, while a new children's play area will also be built to provide open space for local people to enjoy.

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Mindful of the environment, the designs include plans to install electric car charging points and more than 360 new bicycle parking spaces. The new homes will also contribute to a 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions thanks to a connection to the forthcoming Barking Town Centre District Heating Network and the installation of solar panels.

Speaking following the site visit, Cllr Darren Rodwell, Barking and Dagenham Council Leader, said: "It's a great start to the New Year – we're now making visible headway in rebuilding a better, greener Gascoigne estate. It illustrates our determination to build top quality, affordable homes for local people not just in this part of Barking but across the entire borough."

The Gascoigne Estate West project is being delivered by national developer Wates Residential after it won a place on the pioneering Be First Development Framework last year.

Paul Nicholls, Managing Director for Wates Residential, added: "We're delighted to have begun the first stage of demolition on this exciting flagship project, delivering more than 200 homes for people in Barking.

"Together with our partners, we will deliver new high-quality homes and create a lasting legacy for the whole community through our investment in education, skills and training because we believe that everyone deserves a great place to live."

Construction work at Gascoigne Estate West is expected to be completed in spring 2022.

(CM/JG)