My Chase Evans
Barking, IG11
Greater London’s fastest developing district, Barking is a growth opportunity area noted for excellent value new homes close to parks and large outdoors, good schools, modern leisure and retail facilities and great transport links to London and Essex.
Barking is a growing east London suburb within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham on the north banks of the river Thames, south of Ilford and east of the River Roding. Barking is one of the fastest developing Greater London areas.
As a growth opportunity town, Barking is noted for excellent value new housing close to parks and large outdoors, good schools, modern leisure and retail facilities and great transport links to London and Essex. Attractive future investment opportunities include Barking Riverside, Dagenham Dock, Barking Town Centre, and sites along Thames Road and River Road. Barking Riverside is one of the largest development schemes, not just in the borough, but also in London and the UK.
According to the personal wellbeing survey in the UK Census of 2021, the district is among the happiest places to live in the UK.
History
A traditional commuter town, Barking is also a place of significant history and heritage.
Barking grew from a prosperous fishing village to an Essex parish with a flourishing agriculture and farming, and a large commuter town with extensive manufacturing. For much of 18th and 19th centuries it was a base for the Short Blue Fleet, the largest fishing fleet in England. During the same period, the town was known for many bustling workshops linked to the shipping trade and dockyards at Woolwich. More recently, during the 20th century, Barking embraced manufacturing of a wide range of products including chemicals, food and drink, power and energy, mechanical engineering including Ford cars, iron, steel and minerals. Its population expanded significantly in 1920s as many Londoners living in slums moved to the borough to find new homes within its eastern boundaries. Between the last two censuses (held 2011 and 2021), the population if Barking and Dagenham grew by 17.7%.
The London Borough of Barking was formed in 1965 and renamed Barking and Dagenham in 1980.
Until recently, the borough was once home to the large Barking Power Station which provided more than one third of London's energy needs at the time. The original coal-fired plant was replaced to a gas-fired station which closed in 2014. The 42 acres power station site was bought by the City Corporation for its new wholesale food market. This power station regeneration programme is currently worth approx. £1bn and will provide further economic growth including thousands of new jobs to the borough.
Culture and entertainment
Barking city centre is adjacent to the Barking station, a busy travel hub connecting the town with the rest of London. Over recent years the centre has received significant investments in housing and infrastructure and is set to play a central role in the further development of the town.
Barking Town Square is an award-winning scheme which is an inspiration for its future urban development. It includes an exemplary cityscape composition with a square, residential buildings, the landmark 1950’s town hall, an arboretum, an arcade, and a folly wall. The square allows various types of occupation and is easily accessible and open to the public. The square and the town’s civic centre opens out west to the historic sites of the great Barking Abbey Grounds and the Abbey itself, St Margaret’s Parish Church, Abbey Quay Park the River Roding. Barking Abbey dates to 666AD and is the setting for many events including the annual Barking Carnival which takes place in May.
The most imposing building in Barking’s urban centre is Barking Town Hall. The 1930s brick built civic centre incorporates the landmark Barking Clock Tower. Adjacent to it, and more contemporary, is the local cultural icon The Broadway Theatre. As a flexible and modern performing arts venue, the theatre houses Barking and Dagenham College of Performing Arts.
Set on the banks of the River Roding is the emerging Icehouse Creative Quarter centre. It offers a modern live/workspace for thriving film makers, theatre companies, visual artists, furniture makers and fashion designers. Incorporated in the site are the two oldest buildings in the borough, the Malthouse and the Granary. In the heart of it is The Boathouse, a riverside exhibition and events venue with a cafe.
To the east of Barking Square is the Grade I Listed Eastbury Manor, a National Trust property dating back to Tudor times. The manor is a conference venue where many important historical and social events are held.
Barking is a leafy borough with 530 hectares of green belt land and 25 parks. Popular parks in the district are Barking Park and Mayesbrook Park. Barking Park boast a beautiful boating lake with formal gardens where as Mayesbrook Park is a home to a nature reserve, a woodland, many lakes, and sports facilities extensively used by local sports groups and fitness enthusiasts. Further east from the town square is the Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, a world-class facility with two swimming pools, a gym, fitness studios and a sports hall.
New Homes and Developments
Barking is set in the London Riverside Opportunity Area designated first in 2004. It is part of the Thames Estuary Growth Corridor redevelopment with potential for 35,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs.
Barking Riverside is the largest waterfront development in Barking. It lies at the heart of Thames Gateway and close to Barking town centre. It covers over 400 acres along the north banks of the Thames and has a capacity to deliver over 10,000 new homes. ‘The master plan includes commercial space, community and leisure facilities including primary and secondary schools, nearly two kilometres of new River Thames frontage and additional 21 hectares of open space, and a network of footpaths and cycleways.
In service since July 2022 is the new Barking Riverside station. Forming part of the London Overground network, it connects the district with Barking in 7 minutes and with central London in as little as 22 minutes.’ Barking Riverside Pier has its own Pier serviced by the River Bus and operated by Thames Clippers.
The London Sustainable Industries Park (LSIP) at Dagenham Dock is a new 25-hectare business district. Once built it will be the UK’s largest site for environmental industries and technologies.
Other recent residential developments in Barking
Barking Riverside
Apo Barking
Abberville Apartments
Discover Apartments
Fresh Wharf
Transport (zone 4):
Barking has excellent road, rail and river connections with Central London and Essex.
Barking station is the main transport hub serviced by London Underground, London Overground and National Rail services.
Hammersmith & City, and the District lines run London Underground services to the City, Westminster, King’s Cross, Hammersmith, Ealing, Richmond, Wimbledon and Upminster. A District line journey from Barking to Westminster takes approx. 40 minutes.
National Rail and c2c run regular services to Fenchurch Street station in London taking approx. 15 minutes. c2c connects Barking with Grays, Southend, and Shoeburyness in Essex.
Barking Riverside Overground station (a five-minute journey to Barking station station) opened in 2022 as an extension of the Gospel Oak to Barking line. The station is located just a few minutes’ walk from the river Thames and the new Barking Riverside pier.
The River bus by Thames Clippers run boat services from the Barking Pier to Greenwich, Canary Wharf, the City, Westminster, Battersea.
Barking has good access to A12 and the North Circular Road.
Barking is also on the Cycle Superhighway 3, a London cycle network route linking the town to Canary Wharf, the City and Westminster.
Council
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
For the current Council Tax rates CLICK HERE
To get your Barking property valued CLICK HERE