Barking and Dagenham Council is intensifying its focus on housing development, with the Barking Investment Partnership Delivery Strategy set to deliver over 1,500 new homes across three sites on the Gascoigne Estate. The strategy, discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, aims to attract external funding and accelerate development in the Barking Town Centre and River Roding area.
The initiative will use an Investment Partnership (IP) model to develop council-owned land. According to the Public reports pack Tuesday 16-Sep-2025 19.00 Cabinet, this approach was chosen over eight alternative delivery options due to its speed, shared risk, flexibility, and ability to generate both financial returns and social value. The report pack also states that the Investment Partnership will deliver a clearly defined and measurable programme of social value outcomes
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Cllr Cameron Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, explained that the investment partnership would bring in private investment, lessening the council's risk. An investment partnership, therefore, would bring in private investment which means that the council has even less risk than we had before,
he stated. He also noted that the strategy involves no long-term commitments from the council, which will retain substantial influence over design and development as the planning authority.
The proposed IP would be structured as a Limited Liability Partnership, allowing the council to retain freehold ownership, influence design and delivery, and share profits while attracting external investment. The report pack names Andrew Savege, Development Director, and Jonathan Langham, Head of Asset Management, both at Be First, as the report authors.
The Cabinet also discussed several other key initiatives at the meeting, including:
- Tackling Poverty: The
Foundations for Change: Tackling Poverty
Strategy 2025/26, which focuses on supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis using a test-and-learn model. The strategy focuses on a test-and-learn model, targeting interventions towards specific vulnerable cohorts, including care leavers, single parents, those with disabilities, families with young children, and young people with mental ill-health. The interventions that have been developed to date with services represent initial proposals, which will be developed further and added to. - Vicarage Field Redevelopment: Discussions on the future of Vicarage Field shopping centre, with the council aiming to facilitate redevelopment proposals and a potential freehold sale. The new proposal for Vicarage Field would focus on only the land within the council freehold/Lagmar leasehold boundaries and not require any Compulsory Purchase Order process. It still involves residential development and commercial development of a different type than that which got into Bickridge Field Shopping Centre 35 years or so ago when it opened possibly trying to concentrate on food. There's been some research indicating that that would be a sensible way forward that could attract commercial businesses and create jobs for us in that area and of course we need there to be a high quality public realm.
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: The
Building a Fairer Future Together
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2025-2029, which sets out the council's commitment to tackling inequality and discrimination. - Leaseholder Support: A proposal to expand payment options for leaseholders for major works, aiming to make it easier for them to manage their debts.
- VCFSE Compact: The
Stronger Together
A VCFSE Compact Approach for the Borough, outlining the council's approach to working with the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector. - New Build Portfolio: An update on the Be First New Build Portfolio, including the number of new build homes completed or soon to be completed.
- Carers' Support: Discussions on the contract for the Carers' Support service, including a proposed three-month extension to the existing contract.
- Energy Transition: B&D Energy's transition to a standalone LASER contract to improve predictability and better align with its commercial model.
- Governance Changes: Governance changes at the Barking and Dagenham Trading Partnership (BD Group).
- Housing Asset Management: The Housing Asset Management Procurement Strategy to provide a safe, well-maintained housing stock.
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Funding and Procurement to support volume deployment and scaled-up delivery of EV chargers.
- PPE Contract: The contract for provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Corporate Uniform and Equipment.
- Housing Management System: The procurement of professional services to support and maintain the Open Housing Management System.
- Vehicle Hire: The contract for short term / spot hire vehicle requirements.
- Data Analytics: The procurement of a data analytics platform.
The meeting, which was held on Tuesday 16 September 2025, covered a wide range of topics, demonstrating the council's commitment to addressing key issues and improving the lives of its residents. The full Public reports pack Tuesday 16-Sep-2025 19.00 Cabinet is available online.
