Barking and Dagenham’s ambition to rival Old Street area as the capital’s new tech city took a step closer to reality this week after a planning application was submitted to develop two new buildings in the borough, which will be used as data centres.

NTT Communications Corporation has submitted an application to develop the 212m long buildings and this is now with planners at Be First, Barking and Dagenham Council’s regeneration company Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “This is an exciting development and shows our drive to attract tech businesses is beginning to pay off.”

If planning consent is given, the data centres will be near the proposed Made in Dagenham film studios on the former brownfield Sanofi site.

Cllr Rodwell said: “We want our borough to be famous not only for films but also modern media and tech companies looking to build their brands and businesses.

“It means more quality better paid jobs for local people and it will be the only site in London that has media, data and science in one location.”

The planning application is open to consultation and is due to be decided by the council’s independent development control board.