Be First has appointed architects Archio to work on the development of a former Synagogue site in Dagenham.

Barking and Dagenham Council’s pioneering regeneration company gave the east London firm the green light after they submitted designs for ‘two villas on a green carpet’.

The villas will deliver around 20 homes for shared ownership.

Pat Hayes, Managing Director of Be First, said: “We felt the designs from Archio complement the ground-breaking 1920s designs of the Becontree Estate.

“It shows once again Barking and Dagenham is at the vanguard of building high quality, affordable homes for ordinary Londoners.”

Kyle Buchanan of Archio Ltd, said: “In the 1920s the Becontree Estate was one of the most radical programmes of public housing ever attempted.

“Be First’s development plans for Barking and Dagenham are reigniting that radical spark and we are thrilled to have been chosen to work on this key site. Our scheme draws on the character of the existing estate to deliver a locally distinctive architecture that will provide much needed housing.” 

Notes for editors:

The Becontree Estate was built in the 1920s as part of a wider programme to build homes ‘fit for heroes’ following the end of the First World War.

Be First is looking to deliver around 50,000 homes over the next 20 years.