Be First – the regeneration arm of Barking and Dagenham Council – recently launched its new investor video for “The Factory District” at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds. Be First is actively seeking financial and development partners to deliver The Factory District.
The next phase of the Factory District, located on Thames Road, Barking, will deliver 1,323 new homes in one of London’s youngest, most dynamic, and fastest growing areas. Overall, the Factory District is anticipated to deliver a gross development value of £1.83bn.
Partners are being sought for the second phase of The Factory District, with the first phase – 12 Thames Road – due to be completed later this year. 12 Thames Road is a £58m development of 156 affordable built-to-rent homes across four multi-level residential blocks ranging from seven to 16 storeys. The scheme is also delivering 5,000 sq. m. of light industrial units for new and expanding businesses.
The Factory District neighbours another recently launched Be First development, Industria, the UK’s first multi-storey light industrial scheme. Industria has been built to provide employment space for local businesses and help the growth of SMEs in Barking and Dagenham. The development comprises over 100,000 sq. ft. of industrial floorspace in two connected buildings and encompasses the innovative regeneration happening in the borough.
The Factory District project will transform under used brownfield land into a co-living business and residential district. The project also aims to provide employment space for local businesses and help the growth of small and medium enterprise based in the local area and across the city of London.
Located between Barking Station and Barking Riverside Station, The Factory District has strong connections to central London, with trains for the respective stations taking just 30 minutes to get into the City of London. It is situated in the Thames Estuary Growth Corridor, and can help support growth in the Thames Freeport.
As part of the plans for The Factory District, the local natural environment will be enhanced to provide characterful public spaces and community facilities that encourage active travel and tie the development to local parks, River Thames and River Roding.
Be First’s ability to deliver is demonstrated by its incredible track record – since 2021, the company has secured planning permission for up to 6,253 homes and 315,302 sqm of commercial floor space. The Factory District is the latest in a line of significant regeneration projects that have helped establish Barking & Dagenham as a blueprint for regeneration – Be First has identified around 400ha of potential development land for future industrial and residential expansion.
Geoff Raw, Managing Director at Be First, said:
“We’re delighted to launch The Factory District – the first phase of The Factory District is well underway, and this second phase will be even bigger. Launching the investor video for The Factory District is testament to our success, and the project will deliver long-term, well-paid jobs while providing new social and private homes. Barking & Dagenham has undergone an outstanding transformation in recent years and this latest project is yet another reason to be excited for now and the future. We welcome any potential financial and development partners to get in touch with us to discuss this opportunity.”
Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said:
“Barking & Dagenham is the growth engine of London with huge development opportunities. The Factory District is the latest of several exciting projects happening here and will deliver hundreds of jobs, thousands of homes, and millions in growth potential. The scheme will also be a lynchpin to complementary plans for 10,000 further homes at Barking Riverside and 5,000 homes in Barking town centre, demonstrating the scale of development and potential in the borough.”
The Factory District is supported by Thames Freeport, Thames Estuary Growth Board, and Barking Riverside Limited.