Nick Williams

Jewellery, ceramics, stationery, art, clothing, gifts, and games made by local residents will be on sale for Christmas in a pop-up shop in Barking station as part of a grassroots regeneration project this festive season. The pop-up shop is a joint venture between Be First, Barking and Dagenham Council’s pioneering regeneration company, and the Barking […]

What sort of development should be allowed in Barking and Dagenham over the next few years and where should it take place? These are some of the key questions the council is encouraging residents to help answer as it launches its consultation on the Local Plan. Every borough is legally required to have a Local

A local artist who incorporates nuts, nails and screws to explore neuroscience, physics and psychology is displaying her ground-breaking work at Barking station’s pop up gallery this month. Griffi, who lives locally, said: “I use an array of reclaimed materials such as screws, nails, kitchen utensils and other building paraphernalia, some of which have been

Plans to build at least 200 new affordable homes for local people were given the green light last night (12 November) by councillors. The proposals, which are subject to planning permission, are to build the homes on land alongside the A12 in Marks Gate, and emanate from the council’s regeneration company, Be First. They feature

New affordable homes will be built on the site of a former Royal British Legion (RBL) hall and adjacent flats after plans were agreed by the Council at a cabinet meeting last night (12 November). The 56 new affordable homes will replace the existing 16 flats on Jervis Court and the ex-RBL land on Rectory

Contractors working in Barking and Dagenham have agreed to create over 560 new construction jobs and hundreds of new apprenticeships by 2025. The Council’s regeneration company, Be First has reached an agreement with its construction industry partners to deliver full time jobs and extensive training and educational opportunities. The news comes in the run up

Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council was joined by fellow fans of the east London borough to pose for a tongue in cheek picture in the grounds of Barking Abbey.  The picture – loosely based on the Downtown Abbey film poster – is part of a drive to promote the borough’s history

Be First, Barking and Dagenham Council’s pioneering regeneration company, has announced new plans to deliver films studios in Dagenham today. The proposals, which were given the go-ahead by councillors tonight, are for Be First to design and seek planning permission for London’s largest film studios for 25 years on over 20 acres of the former

Residents and neighbours of two housing estates are being invited to get involved in designing new homes for local people at a series of drop-in events starting next week. The events follow a decision to build new homes at the junction of Roxwell Road and Stebbing Way, Barking, and at the corner of Oxlow Lane