Building work on 90 affordable homes at a former Job Centre site in South Dagenham reached a major milestone this week.
The structure of the new homes in Chequers Lane is now complete.
And, to celebrate the Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Darren Rodwell met Kevin Parsons, Director of Hollybrook Ltd, who are building the homes as part an innovative agreement with the Council.
Cllr Darren Rodwell said: “This development will unlock more affordable homes for local people and help deliver wider benefits to Dagenham. With thousands of homes coming to Beam Park, the relocation of the City of London markets and, of course, London’s largest film and TV studios coming too, Dagenham has truly become a remarkable story of successful regeneration.”
Kevin Parsons, Director at Hollybrook, said: “The transformation and regeneration of Dagenham is now well underway and this great project occupying such a prominent position is yet further testimony to that. Everyone involved in making this project happen should be very proud.”
Initially the site had planning permission for 77 homes of which only 16 per cent were affordable but thanks to an agreement brokered by the Council’s regeneration organisation Be First, all the homes will now be affordable.
The agreement means that once Hollybrook complete construction, the council will take ownership of 90 homes, with 69 per cent at affordable rent, and 31 per cent at London Affordable Rent – with rent for a one-bedroom flat starting at £160 a week.
Deon Browne, Assistant Construction Manager at Be First, said: “This is a superb investment for the council and a great day for Dagenham with a fantastic, high quality development delivering 100 per cent affordable housing for local people.”
The total development costs for Barking and Dagenham Council are £25m.
