The cutting of a piece of turf has marked the start of construction at Becontree Heath in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham by Countryside.
The £39.8m development will deliver 170 homes, a new replacement Transport for London (TfL) bus terminus and new retail space for a local pharmacy.
Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Andy Fancy, Managing Director for North and South London at Countryside Partnerships South carried out the ground-breaking event at the development.
Councillor Darren Rodwell commented: “Becontree Heath shows our determination to provide much-needed amenities and will offer a choice of truly affordable, top quality homes for our residents.
“There’s no doubt local people will benefit from this scheme, so I am delighted to see the work get underway.”
Countryside is working with Be First, Barking and Dagenham Council’s regeneration company, to provide the local area with a mix of housing tenure, including 83 private homes for sale and 87 affordable homes, across a range of one-, two- and three-bed apartments and three-bedroom houses. Becontree Heath, set to complete in September 2019, will also be the first development with a council-owned and run district heating network.
Andy Fancy, Managing Director for North and South London at Countryside Partnerships South, said: “Today’s ground-breaking is an exciting step in Becontree Heath’s transformation where we will deliver high quality homes, an improved bus station, new pharmacy and a council-owned and run district heating network. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the local community ensuring that they have the access to the right type of homes and amenities.”
Pat Hayes, Managing Director of Be First added: “These homes are just the first of tens of thousands of affordable homes we are working hard to help deliver for local people and ordinary Londoners.”
