The Planning Committee of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Monday 16 March 2026. The committee considered a new outline planning application (NOPA) for Barking Riverside and a non-material amendment to a previous planning consent at Beam Park Station.

Barking Riverside Area, Renwick Road, Barking - New Outline Planning Application (NOPA)

The committee considered a new outline planning application (NOPA) for Barking Riverside, proposed by Barking Riverside Limited (BRL). This application seeks to increase the total number of homes on the wider Barking Riverside site from 10,800 to up to 20,000, and non-residential floorspace from 12,700 sqm to 65,600 sqm. The NOPA will focus on areas not yet developed or granted detailed approval under the existing 2018 Outline Planning Permission (OPP), achieving the increased density through densification and optimisation of land, including increased building heights.

Key aspects of the proposed NOPA include:

• Housing: Up to 13,046 new homes, with a baseline of 12% affordable housing at a 50:50 social to intermediate tenure split, rising to a maximum of 35% where viability allows. This is a significant increase in social housing compared to the OPP's 15:85 split.
• Non-Residential Uses: Up to 52,848 sqm of non-residential floorspace, including retail, business, healthcare, community, faith, and leisure facilities.
• Infrastructure and Community Benefits:
  • £11 million contribution towards additional bus services.
  • £2 million contribution towards enhancing local connectivity, including links to Dagenham Dock Station.
  • £50,000 contribution towards capacity enhancements at Barking Station.
  • Provision for at least two community spaces, up to 6,400 sqm, with multi-faith provision, costing up to £4.2 million.
  • Land reserved for three additional primary schools (including the Mallard Primary) and safeguarded space for two four-form entry primary schools.
  • An estimated £6.46 million to £7.86 million contribution towards healthcare services, ring-fenced for Barking Riverside.
  • 70 hectares of public spaces and parks, including play areas and biodiversity enhancements.
  • A borough Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contribution estimated between £33 and £44 million.
• Sustainability: Commitment to over 35% on-site CO2 reduction, BREEAM Excellent standards, 10% biodiversity net gain, and flood-resilient design.

The application was supported by an Environmental Statement and underwent extensive public consultation. Concerns raised by objectors included the impact of building heights, density, strain on infrastructure (healthcare, education, transport), environmental pollution, fire safety, and the affordability of housing. The applicant's representatives and council officers addressed these concerns, highlighting the mitigation measures, S106 obligations, and conditions attached to the approval.

The committee resolved to agree the reasons for approval and delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Inclusive Growth and Place to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement and any direction from the Mayor of London. If the legal agreement had not been completed by 16 September 2026, the Strategic Director was delegated authority to either refuse planning permission, extend the timeframe, or refer the application back to the Planning Committee.

Beam Park Station - Non-Material Amendment

The committee also considered a non-material amendment to Condition 71 of the outline planning permission for the Beam Park development. The original condition stipulated that development of residential and commercial units in phases E, F, and G could not commence until the Beam Park Station was fully constructed and operational.

The proposed amendment, supported by the Department for Transport, the GLA, and other stakeholders, aims to accelerate housing delivery by allowing these phases to be developed concurrently with the station's construction. The revised condition requires the submission of detailed evidence confirming the station's construction is authorised to proceed, including letters from Network Rail and/or the Department for Transport, completed implementation agreements or construction contracts, approved design packages, and evidence of enabling works for the station.

This change is intended to align with the government's agenda to deliver 1.5 million homes and designates Beam Park as a 'New Homes Accelerator Site'. The committee resolved to amend the wording of Condition 71 and delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Inclusive Growth and Place to approve the non-material amendment.

The meeting was webcast live, and papers were available online. Councillors declared no interests. Apologies were received from several councillors. The meeting concluded at 9:05 pm.