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Be First has joined forces with The National Lottery Heritage Fund to offer a £20,000 commission to an artist, or artists, to create a heritage mural in Short Blue Place, Barking. The plans to commemorate Barking’s forgotten history were hatched by local heritage volunteers who have been researching the area’s lost history.  They have unearthed […]

The development of London’s largest films studios is set to be considered at Barking and Dagenham Council’s cabinet this month (20 October). A report drawn up by the council’s regeneration arm, Be First, recommends that the most effective way to deliver a world-class film and TV production centre in Dagenham would be to lease the

The conversion of a former convent in Dagenham into new housing is beginning to take shape and the Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Darren Rodwell visited the site this week to see how work was progressing. Cllr Rodwell was joined by Iain Ferguson of Be First and Paul Hart of Murphy Group who

Residents, businesses, and developers in Barking and Dagenham are being asked to share their views on the future of the borough as the council launches a new public consultation on the emerging Local Plan. The Local Plan sets out the visions for the future of the borough until 2037 and covers a wide range of

The building of hundreds of affordable homes is moving forward in one of London’s largest estate renewal programmes. And there to see the construction of the first 52 homes take shape on Barking’s Gascoigne estate this week, was Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Darren Rodwell, Iain Ferguson of Be First, and Steve Kitchen

Over 300 pupils are taking training lessons at Barking and Dagenham schools this year, as the delayed 2020 Bike to School week gets underway. The national ride-to-school initiative, which was rescheduled from its usual spot in May due to Covid-19, will see bikeability training delivered in 25 local schools. Bikeability is a cycle training programme

Barking and Dagenham Council, together with its urban regeneration company Be First, have submitted a representation to the government’s comprehensive spending review to request investment for a game-changing transport package that could deliver 30,000 homes by 2041 and unlock 12,000 homes more immediately in the Castle Green area. The proposal would see the construction of

Plans to build a further 226 new homes as part of one of east London’s largest housing redevelopments were approved this week. Councillors at Barking and Dagenham Council agreed to the proposals for the new homes on Barking’s Gascoigne estate thanks in part to the fact that the latest development will be one of the greenest

Construction of 90 affordable homes at a former Job Centre site in South Dagenham started this week.  The development in Chequers Lane is the result of an innovative agreement between Barking and Dagenham Council and Hollybrook Ltd, who will build the homes for the council.  Initially the site had planning permission for 77 homes of which

Consultation has started on a new industrial hub at the heart of the River Road industrial estate in Barking. Dubbed Industria, the striking-looking building boasts top quality, flexible industrial workspaces in a modern structure that sets pioneering new standards for sustainability. And, the experience for visitors and neighbours will be enhanced by a green wall,