London Riverside

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Wide river with grassy bank in foreground. There are white industrial buildings and wind turbines in the background.
The riverside at Barking with industrial uses in the background

The London Riverside is a redevelopment area on the north side of the River Thames in East London, England. The area was identified as a zone of change following the introduction of the Thames Gateway policy in 1995. Proposals for improvements in the area were at first developed by Havering and Barking and Dagenham councils, with a London Riverside Urban Strategy published in 2002. It was identified as an opportunity area for housing in the first London Plan published by the Mayor of London in 2004. Between 2004 and 2013 the planning powers in the area were the responsibility of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation. The area includes existing town centres and large areas of brownfield land. As of May 2026, redevelopment is underway. Completed projects include the East London Transit bus service and the CEME education centre. Large-scale phased housing developments under construction include Beam Park, Dagenham Green and Barking Riverside. As of 2025, 8,087 new homes have been completed with 44,000 projected to be built over 22 years.

Planning

London Riverside opportunity area identified in the London Plan

The potential for the southern sections of Barking and Dagenham and Havering adjacent to the Thames to be regenerated was identified in the Thames Gateway Planning Framework regional planning guidance published in 1995.[1] The Barking/Havering Riverside area was identified as a zone of change that was named London Riverside. This was developed further by the London Riverside Action Group and in 2002 the London Riverside Urban Strategy proposed a number of regeneration and infrastructure improvements, including new stations on the Barking–Rainham railway line.[2] London Riverside was listed as an opportunity area[a] in the 2004 London Plan.[4] In 2004 the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation took over planning functions from the local councils for the area, reverting to back to the councils in 2013. In 2015, the London Riverside opportunity area planning framework was adopted.[5][b] As part of the preparation of the next London Plan, a strategic analysis of the area was produced in 2025.[6]

Geography

It covers 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres). The area includes the established town centres of Barking and Rainham. It includes the riverside sections of Barking, Dagenham and Hornchurch where there are huge swathes of brownfield land. The southern parts of Rainham and Wennington contain less developed marshland.[5]

Projects

Barking Riverside Pier
Dagenham Green under construction
East London Transit bus

1,782 new homes were completed prior to 2019. As of 2025, 6,305 new homes have been completed since 2019 with 15,861 in advanced stages of planning. The area is categorised by the Greater London Authority as "ready to grow" and 44,000 new homes are projected to be built over 22 years from 2019.[6]

Completed projects
Projects started, but not completed, including phased developments
Projects that are proposed, and not started

Notes

  1. Opportunity areas are key locations that have the potential for large scale development, typically with capacity for at least 2,500 homes or 5,000 jobs, often linked to public transport improvements.[3]
  2. Still current as of May 2026.[3]

References

  1. Department of the Environment (1995). The Thames Gateway Planning Framework. H.M. Stationery Office. ISBN 978-0117531093.
  2. London Riverside Urban Strategy (PDF) (Report). Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council. 8 July 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  3. "London Riverside Opportunity Area". Greater London Authority. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  4. "The London Plan" (PDF). Greater London Authority. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 February 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. London Riverside Opportunity Area Planning Framework (PDF) (Report). Greater London Authority. September 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  6. "London Riverside Opportunity Area Portrait" (PDF). Greater London Authority. 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  7. Spring, Martin (5 December 2003). "Beyond the automobile". Building. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  8. Gregory, Ruby (12 March 2024). "More weekday Uber Boat services could be coming to east London". The Standard. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  9. "East London Transit is flushed with success". Transport for London. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  10. Lydall, Ross (11 July 2022). "London Overground extension to Barking Riverside to open next week". The Standard. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  11. Knight, Matthew (21 December 2011). "Eco-industry park promotes shared vision". CNN. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  12. Alwakeel, Ramzy (19 June 2013). "Orchard Village five years on - we look back at Rainham's Mardyke Estate as regeneration hits halfway mark". Romford Recorder. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  13. Harris, John (6 February 2017). "Leaking sewage and rotten floorboards: life on a 'flagship' housing estate". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  14. Land, Jon (11 October 2006). "'World-class' riverside conservation park for Thames Gateway". 24dash.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  15. "Rainham Marshes officially opened as a RSPB nature reserve". BirdGuides. 13 November 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  16. "Barking Central". New London Architecture. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  17. Clark, Nick (12 September 2025). "Shopping centre sale could pave way for major redevelopment". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  18. Morby, Aaron (18 March 2026). "Barking Riverside doubles down with 20,000-home green light". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  19. Marius, Callum (11 March 2023). "Huge £9m upgrade of major London Underground and c2c station takes shape". My London. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  20. Elgueta, Adriana (17 December 2020). "First residents move in at Beam Park". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  21. "East London scheme delivers first homes". Bdaily Business News. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  22. Vickers, Noah (31 March 2025). "New Superloop express bus route proposed through north-east London". The Standard. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  23. Lockhart, Alastair (14 October 2021). "A13 could change forever as council plans to put huge road underground". My London. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  24. Marsh, Alex (24 March 2025). "Neighbours feel 'deceived' over promise of station that is yet to be built". Romford Recorder. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  25. Mellor, Josh (7 December 2021). "Beam Parkway green corridor plan scrapped". Yellow Advertiser. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  26. Mansfield, Ian (14 November 2022). "TfL planning a new London Overground station in Barking". ianVisits. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  27. Vickers, Noah (11 July 2024). "City Hall to 'consider' DLR extension to Barking Riverside". Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

51°31′N 0°7′E / 51.517°N 0.117°E / 51.517; 0.117