1,500 affordable homes to be built on former Dagenham site

London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a deal to secure more than 1,550 genuinely affordable homes on the former Dagenham car factory site in East London.

The deal, which involves an £80m grant from the mayor’s affordable housing Programme, has enabled Peabody housing association to acquire the 45-acre site.

The mixed-tenure development will provide homes at London affordable rent and for shared ownership.

Plans are still in the early stages, but it is thought the site could eventually support around 3,000 homes, creating a new neighbourhood in the wider Dagenham regeneration area.

The site sits next to Dagenham Dock train station and a short walk from the future site of London’s largest film studio.

Three of London’s historic markets are also planning to relocate nearby to a site at the former Barking Reach Power Station. The area is a major growth and investment hub for East London and the Thames Estuary.

The Dagenham project is part of Peabody’s strategic partnership with the Mayor of London which is on track to see Peabody start 7,000 new affordable homes for London by 2023, including as part of the comprehensive regeneration of Thamesmead and at the former Holloway Prison in Islington.

‘Dagenham Docks is one of the most exciting areas of regeneration in London, with this former powerhouse of East End industry set to be comprehensively transformed over the next decade,’ said the mayor.

‘I’m pleased to be continuing City Hall’s partnership with Peabody to build the genuinely affordable homes Londoners deserve. I’m confident that their expertise, alongside the vision and drive of Barking and Dagenham council will deliver a thriving new neighbourhood for east London, whilst paying tribute to the area’s unique heritage.’

Peabody chief executive Brendan Sarsfield added: ‘Like me, many people from the local community will have lived and breathed working at Ford Dagenham through their own experience or through family and friends. The place is a really important part of the industrial and social history of Britain. Together we have a fantastic opportunity to bring the empty site back into use as part of the exciting new Dagenham Docks neighbourhood. Starting with people, we can help bring the place to life, linking in with residents from the Becontree estate and elsewhere to make it a great Peabody neighbourhood for the future.’

Photo Credit – Supplied by Peabody