Housing association Peabody has been granted permission for the first phase of Dagenham Green.

The plans include 935 homes on the site of the old Ford stamping plant, subject to agreement from the Environment Agency.

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.

-- Advertisement --

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."