Barking Riverside Limited (BRL), a joint venture between L&Q and the mayor of London, has secured revised outline planning permission to deliver up to 20,000 new homes in east London.
Located within London’s zone four, the 443-acre site will include more than 4,000 affordable homes, with extensive social infrastructure and green spaces.
Alongside housing, proposals also include two public parks, a health facility, three new schools, two community centres and commercial space, as well as enhanced riverfront access, environmental protections and improved walking and cycling infrastructure.
The site already benefits from 3,000 completed homes as well as a London Overground station and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers pier, both delivered in 2022, alongside new bus and cycle routes.
The application, submitted in 2024, was the largest residential planning application in England that year. The approval marks an increase in scale for the development, enabling an uplift from the originally consented 10,800 homes.
Tom Copley, deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said the project was one of the “most significant and exciting housing developments not just in London but anywhere in the UK”.
“It is a fantastic example of a major brownfield regeneration, supported by City Hall and partners, which is delivering for the local community in this vibrant part of east London,” he added.
“I welcome the news that the Barking Riverside story is set to enter its next phase, ensuring thousands of more high-quality and affordable homes for Londoners in the coming years as we continue to build a better and fairer capital for everyone.”
Earlier this year, research from the Centre for Policy Studies revealed that housing starts in London fell by 72% in 2024-25, despite planning being a key focus for the Labour government over that period.
Leigh Johnson, managing director of BRL, added: “This successful planning consent marks a genuine step-change for Barking Riverside and for the role it can play in London’s growth. Yes in relation to housing numbers, but also regarding place creation and the pace of delivery.
“The development offers a rare combination of scale, security and co-ordination, not often seen within the London market. With institutional backing and a long-term stewardship model, Barking Riverside is positioned not as a short-cycle opportunity but as a generational investment anchored in partnership. We are now positioned to de-risk, accelerate and expand.”
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