Drawn up for Be First, the council’s wholly-owned development company, the project will see 400 homes built on a site near Barking’s interchange railway station.
A 1960s office block, Crown House on Cambridge Road, will be demolished to make way for the two new tower blocks. The Grade II-listed Tabernacle Church will be retained between the twin towers.
The scheme will also introduce new cafés and restaurants, improved public access and a landscaped public square.
The wider regeneration of Barking town centre has been masterplanned by Weston Williamson + Partners and involves 2,200 new homes built above and around a revamped Barking station.
Pat Hayes, Managing Director of Be First said: ’These proposals show our idea of creating a vibrant, liveable town centre is not just a pipe dream.
’We are just at the start of realising our vision of making a mini-Manhattan for ordinary Londoners.’
The proposals are now out for public consultation and will go before the council’s planning committee before the end of the year.
Source: Architects’ Journal (24/07/18)