Vistry Group, through its Countryside Partnerships brand, and L&Q have hit a major milestone in their ambitious Beam Park regeneration project in East London – topping out the highest point of the third phase. This latest phase will deliver 520 new homes for Barking & Dagenham Council next year, forming part of the transformative circa 4,000-home eight-phase masterplan.
To commemorate this milestone, a topping out ceremony was held on 1st October with landowner the GLA and Mayor of London, Barking and Dagenham Council and their regeneration company Be First, which is acquiring the 520 new homes. This forward-funded acquisition, secured by Barking & Dagenham Council in 2022, will provide a balanced mix of 50% affordable and 50% market rent, reinforcing the borough’s commitment to housing delivery.
Following the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s recognition of Beam Park as part of the New Homes Accelerator, this deal has played a pivotal role in accelerating housing delivery on the 72-acre former Ford manufacturing plant site, which is one of London’s largest active construction sites.
Beam Park is one of only three schemes in London with over 3,000 homes, offering 50% affordable housing as well as 25% family homes – helping to meet the critical demand for high-quality homes in the area.
The first two phases of Beam Park have now been completed, delivering 1,158 new homes and community facilities including a new health centre, nursery, primary school and green spaces including Central Park, a riverside open space that includes a range of play facilities for children.
When fully complete Beam Park will have extensive facilities including two schools, retail spaces, a gym, a nursery, a multi-faith centre and two state-of-the-art energy centres, while 58% of the development has been allocated for open space.
Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development said: “I’m delighted to see progress being made at Beam Park with 520 homes being delivered. Nearly half of these are affordable tenures, making a huge difference to the local community alongside a new outside courtyard space. This project on City Hall land is a hugely exciting development which will span the boroughs of Havering and Barking & Dagenham and deliver new schools, leisure, and retail facilities alongside a multi-faith centre. I look forward to seeing Londoners move into these new homes as we continue to build a better, more prosperous London for all.”
