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 series for people to find out about the award-winning Gascoigne neighbourhood, the new Barking Riverside station, and the affordable and sustainable housing for creatives, A House for Artists.
Barking and Dagenham is a dynamic place that you can discover as the borough launches a unique bus tour series for people to find out about what’s coming up and how it’s using ancient and modern history as an inspiration for its future.
The bus tour will let visitors know about Barking and Dagenham’s latest projects, such as UCL’s unique, purpose-built research facility – UCL PEARL, the construction of the country’s only freeport with rail, river, and road access, and the six soundstages of the Wharf Film Studios soon to be joined by another twelve at Eastbrook in Dagenham – the largest film studios built in the UK in 25 years. Furthermore, visitors will be told about the borough’s rich historical backdrop, with places like Barking Abbey (built in 666) and Eastbury Manor House (completed in 1573) as part of the route.
It really is an exciting time for Barking and Dagenham, and momentum is far from being lost – it has established itself as London’s most affordable borough and aims to provide 50,000 quality new homes and 20,000 new jobs by 2037. In the last year, it’s the only London borough to enjoy new connections to three transport networks – the Elizabeth Line, Overground, and the Thames Clippers. Furthermore, it aims to cultivate its rich history by ensuring that creatives are attracted to the area – it has the cheapest spaces in London to rent if you are a freelancer working in the creative industries.
David Harley, Director of Development at Be First, said: “The work that we’re doing in Barking and Dagenham is phenomenal – the borough has become a blueprint of success for the regeneration industry, and we’re keen to show people what has been achieved. The borough is full of surprises and this bus tour will reveal how we’re using the past to inspire our future and provide residents with the opportunities they deserve.”
Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council said: “As far as I’m concerned, our borough is the most special place in the country. We’re London’s gateway into the global economy, we’re building the UK’s first technology hub, building thousands of homes and prioritising local people, and we’ve attracted more than £4bn worth of investment into the borough – and that’s just in the last five years. We’re proud of our history and the sky is the limit for our future – we’re looking forward to showcasing this to people on our bus tours.”
There will be seven opportunities to attend a bus tour, with the first planned for Tuesday 30 May at 10am. All the tours will begin at Barking Town Hall and will last for 2.5 hours. Places are limited, so get in touch as soon as possible. To sign up for one of the tours, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/barking-dagenham-bus-tour-join-us-for-a-whistle-stop-tour-and-see-it-all-tickets-639308999427.
