Peter Barber Architects-designed development welcomes first tenants

Tenants have moved into a new ‘East End’-style housing scheme built by Be First, Barking & Daghenham council’s development arm.

Tarling Close, designed by Peter Barber Architects, features eights homes. Six are one-bedroom houses, with two two-bedroom properties.

The infill development was built in the same style as nearby Burbridge Close, the award-nominated scheme also designed by Peter Barber Architects for Be First.

Both schemes have been built on the Becontree Estate, once Europe’s largest council housing estates, constructed in the aftermath of World War 1.

Dagenham & Barking council leader Darren Rodwell said the latest East End-styled homes had been built to “foster neighbourliness, which is at the heart of what we’re trying to do in the borough.

“Plus we’re freeing up family-sized homes elsewhere for people on the waiting list”.

According to Iain Ferguson, Be First’s commercial director, Tarling Close brings the total number of homes the group has completed since it was created two years ago to just over 250, “and we’re gearing up to deliver 2,500 more in the next few years.

“Both developments are an excellent example of what we’re trying to achieve. We’re not just building affordable homes but communities too.”

Be First, whose chairman is former head of the Civil Service Lord Bob Kerslake, recently appointed McLaren to build 169 affordable and shared ownership homes on a former local authority car park at Linton Road.

The contractor is to carry out the second phase of a residential scheme that is part of the local council’s plans to transform Barking town centre.

According to accounts filed with Companies House last month Be First reported a pre-tax loss in the year to 31 March 2018 of £3.9m on turnover of £2.8m.