Hetty Crist

We are very sad to hear that the Chair of the Be First Board, Lord Bob Kerslake, died on Saturday 1 July. Despite his recent illness, he continued to offer guidance and support to Barking & Dagenham Council and the Be First team. Bob was a hugely respected public figure who lived and extolled the […]

We’re continuing to progress the Barking and Dagenham 2037 draft Local Plan through the statutory examination process. Having an adopted Local Plan is essential to deliver the Borough’s ambitious growth plans over the next 15 years for housing, jobs and supporting social infrastructure e.g., health, schools and green space. The London Borough of Barking and

Be First, the urban regeneration arm of Barking & Dagenham Council, will be installing secure cycle facilities across the borough in 2023. The efforts will bring essential cycling infrastructure to the borough, continuing Be First’s Active Travel programme to encourage people to travel without their cars. Cycle hangars are a form of parking suitable in

The £26.7m project will deliver 87 new affordable homes, better links Newlands Park and enhanced external areas. Be First, Barking and Dagenham Council’s regeneration and development arm, celebrated the ‘topping out’ of the new, affordable residential development in Barking. Roxwell Road will welcome 87 new homes, which includes 80 apartments across three blocks and seven

Be First, the successful regeneration arm of Barking and Dagenham Council, is set to work with Weston Homes on a new site called Town Quay Wharf, which will bring 147 new homes to Barking.  The Council will acquire 62 affordable units on a ‘turnkey’ basis whereby Weston Homes will build and deliver the completed units

Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council and David Harley, Interim Director of Development at Be First Regeneration, formally opened the improved public realm in front of the Curfew Tower, on Abbey Green on Thursday 25th May 2023, 1-2pm. The Curfew Tower (formerly the Fire Bell Gate) is the only remaining gateway of

Take a whistle stop bus tour through London’s most exciting borough to see what all the fuss is about Be First, the urban regeneration arm of Barking and Dagenham Council, is offering people the chance to come and experience the borough and its vision for the future. The company is launching a unique bus tour

With brighter, warmer weather and school summer holidays fast approaching – there’s no better time for families to dust off their bicycles so they are ready for rides in the sunshine. To help residents at Becontree Heath in Barking & Dagenham prepare, Be First, Valence Ward Councillors, Vandome, Ride for Freedom, and Willmott Dixon launched

Be First, the Council’s successful regeneration arm, have secured just over £4 million in funding from TfL, on behalf of Barking and Dagenham Council. The funding is part of TfL’s Local Implementation Plan (LIP) programme which aims to improve all forms of transport across the capital, from cycle ways to bus lanes as well as

 The latest new homes in Barking’s Gascoigne neighbourhood, one of London’s largest regeneration projects, were completed this week. The £57m project sees 159 new homes added to the east side of the neighbourhood, built by Be First, the council’s regeneration arm, and contractor Willmott Dixon.  To celebrate the completion, an opening ceremony was held on