Barking Council Approves 1,300 Homes on Dagenham Golf Course 2026

Key Points

• Planning Approval Granted: Barking and Dagenham Council’s planning committee has voted to grant planning approval for a section of a major housing development on Crowlands Heath Golf Course in Dagenham.
• Large-Scale Housing Proposal: Property developer Homes for Life aims to construct 1,298 flats alongside a community centre, supermarket, outdoor sports courts, and a play area.
• Cross-Borough Boundary: Although Barking and Dagenham Council owns the golf course, the majority of the land falls within the neighbouring borough of Havering.
• 100% Affordable Housing Allocation: The development promises 100 per cent affordable housing, with 57 per cent of habitable rooms designated for social rent and 43 per cent for key workers, primarily NHS staff.
• Cross-Party Political Split: The committee voted along political lines, with Labour councillors approving the scheme while Reform UK and Green Party councillors voted against it.
• Green Belt vs Grey Belt Debate: Planning officers argued that the protected Metropolitan Green Belt site should be classified as “grey belt” due to its historical use as a quarry and landfill site until the 1990s.
• Infrastructure and Parking Concerns: Critics raised alarms over the severe lack of parking—offering only 70 spaces for nearly 1,300 homes—as well as added strain on local healthcare infrastructure.
• Further Approvals Required: Construction cannot commence until Reform-controlled Havering Council grants planning permission for its portion of the site, with the Greater London Authority holding power to intervene.

Barking and Dagenham (East London Times) October 16, 2026 – Plans to construct almost 1,300 homes on Crowlands Heath Golf Course have moved forward after councillors in Barking and Dagenham voted to approve a section of the controversial development, despite fierce political pushback and debate over Green Belt protection.

As reported by local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann, Barking and Dagenham Council’s planning committee met yesterday (Wednesday 14th January) to consider whether to approve the 300 homes situated on the Dagenham side of the overall development. While the committee ultimately voted to grant planning permission for this phase, the wider scheme remains subject to decisions by neighbouring authorities, as the majority of the proposed housing site resides within the borough of Havering. Barking and Dagenham Council, which owns the golf course land, previously agreed in March to sell the property to developer Homes for Life, contingent upon securing full planning approval.

What Are the Details of the Proposed 1,300-Home Development?

According to reporting by local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann, property developer Homes for Life is proposing to construct a total of 1,298 flats across the Crowlands Heath Golf Course site. In addition to the residential units, the master plan incorporates a range of community infrastructure, including a new community centre, a supermarket, outdoor sports courts, and a dedicated children’s play area.

A central element of the application is the site’s tenure breakdown. Town hall planning officers noted that the project would deliver 100 per cent affordable housing. Of the total habitable rooms, 57 per cent are designated specifically for social rent, while the remaining 43 per cent are set aside for “key workers”, with a primary focus on NHS personnel.

Why Did Council Planning Officers Recommend Approval on Protected Green Belt Land?

As reported by Sebastian Mann, town hall planning officers employed by Be First Regeneration Ltd—a regeneration consultancy and developer wholly owned by Barking and Dagenham Council—strongly recommended that committee members vote in favour of the application. Officers maintained that the social benefits of delivering 100 per cent affordable housing significantly outweighed the environmental harm associated with building on designated Metropolitan Green Belt land.

Expanding on the land’s classification, Be First planning officer Harrison Depczysnki stated that the site should be viewed as “grey belt”—a term used for previously developed Green Belt land. Depczysnki noted that prior to operating as a golf course, the land had functioned as an active quarry and subsequently served as a landfill site until the 1990s.

Acting as the planning consultant for Homes for Life, Be First representative Emma Thorpe urged the planning committee to focus on the urgent need for local accommodation. As reported by Sebastian Mann, Emma Thorpe stated that:

“They’ll make a real difference to the lives of families, being at the affordable prices they’ll be set at. This is a really significant number of homes to be delivered at a time when housing needs only continue to grow and there’s unprecedented demand for affordable places to live.”

Why Did Opposing Councillors Strongly Criticise the Planning Decision?

Despite the focus on affordable housing, the application drew sharp criticism from opposition members and local ward representatives. As reported by local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann, Reform UK councillor Ben Suter, who represents the Eastbrook and Rush Green ward where the development is situated, appealed directly to the committee to refuse the application.

Expressing strong opposition to the project’s scale and location, Cllr Ben Suter stated that approving the proposal was “one of the worst decisions this planning committee has ever made.” While acknowledging that housing “is really important to me,” Cllr Suter argued that the development was fundamentally “not suitable” for Dagenham. He cautioned that inserting thousands of new residents into the site would place unbearable pressure on existing NHS services and local parking infrastructure, whilst simultaneously eroding the geographical boundary between Dagenham and Havering.

Concerns regarding transport provision were echoed by committee member and Labour councillor Ingrid Robinson, who directed heavy criticism at the proposed parking allocations. Under the current plans, the entire development features just 70 parking spaces, 60 of which are allocated to residents, including 13 dedicated disabled bays. Criticising the restricted allocation, Cllr Ingrid Robinson stated:

“We need more car parking spaces. There’s no way you can get around without a car.”

In response to these objections, planning officers explained that Transport for London (TfL) had explicitly requested minimal parking spaces to discourage car ownership and actively promote walking, cycling, and public transport usage. Addressing healthcare concerns, officers confirmed that the NHS had been formally consulted during the planning phase and had requested a contribution of just over £1 million from the developer toward enhancing health infrastructure in nearby Romford.

How Did the Planning Committee Vote on the Crowlands Heath Proposal?

Following the debate, the committee proceeded to a vote, which highlighted a clear political division among members. As reported by Sebastian Mann, the committee ultimately voted to approve the scheme due to majority Labour support.

Labour committee chair Muhammad Saleem voted in favour, alongside fellow Labour councillors Ingrid Robinson, Alison Cormack, and Edna Fergus. Defending the decision, Cllr Muhammad Saleem stated that the new housing would play a vital role in providing people requiring shelter in the borough with “a roof over their head”.

Conversely, opposition members voted unanimously against the recommendation. Reform UK councillors Alexandra Arnautu and Billy Edmunds, alongside Green Party councillor Faruk Choudhury, registered their votes against granting planning permission.

Background of the Particular Development

The proposal to build on Crowlands Heath Golf Course represents a complex intersection of municipal land ownership, cross-borough administration, and evolving national planning frameworks. Barking and Dagenham Council has long faced severe housing pressure, characterized by extensive waiting lists for social housing and a shortage of affordable homes for essential service workers. In response, the local authority established its wholly-owned urban regeneration vehicle, Be First Regeneration Ltd, to accelerate housing delivery across the borough.

In March 2024, Barking and Dagenham Council leaders agreed terms to sell the council-owned Crowlands Heath Golf Course to private developer Homes for Life, conditional upon the securing of full planning consent. However, the site’s unique geography complicates the planning pathway: while the freehold is retained by Barking and Dagenham, the vast majority of the physical acreage sits across the administrative boundary within the borough of Havering.

Furthermore, the site holds Metropolitan Green Belt status, a designation historically intended to prevent urban sprawl and preserve open spaces. The characterisation of the site as “grey belt” reflects recent shifts in planning terminology, wherein previously developed or degraded Green Belt land—such as former industrial, quarry, or landfill sites—is re-evaluated for residential development to meet acute housing shortages. Because the site operated as a landfill until the late 20th century, proponents argue it represents infill land, whereas opponents contend that converting active recreational spaces sets a concerning precedent for urban green gaps in East London.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Local Community and Wider Audience

The planning approval granted by Barking and Dagenham Council marks only an initial step in a protracted statutory process, and its ultimate outcome will significantly impact local residents, key workers, and broader regional planning governance.

Impact on Local Residents and Service Infrastructure

For residents in the Eastbrook, Rush Green, and broader Dagenham and Havering areas, the construction of nearly 1,300 residential units will substantially alter the local demographic and infrastructure density. If fully realized, the influx of thousands of residents will place immediate demands on healthcare facilities, school placements, and public transport networks.

The strict limitation to 70 total parking spaces for 1,298 units is designed to align with Transport for London’s active travel strategies, yet local residents fear it will inevitably lead to overspill parking on surrounding residential streets. Moreover, the physical loss of the golf course reduces local recreational green space and narrows the physical buffer separating the settlements of Dagenham and Romford.

Impact on Key Workers and Housing Applicants

For individuals on social housing registers and key workers within the local health sector, the development represents a major expansion of available low-cost accommodation. With 100 per cent of the development set aside as affordable housing—and over 500 units tailored specifically for healthcare staff—the project could provide essential housing security near major employment hubs like Queen’s Hospital in Romford.

Political and Regulatory Next Steps

The realization of the project remains contingent on future political and legal decisions. Reform-controlled Havering Council must still evaluate and vote on the planning application for the larger portion of the site falling within its jurisdiction. Given the strong opposition voiced by Reform UK representatives in Barking and Dagenham regarding overdevelopment and Green Belt preservation, the application is expected to face substantial political friction in Havering.

However, local authority decisions do not represent the final avenue of approval. As noted by planning officer Harrison Depczysnki, the Greater London Authority (GLA), headed by the Mayor of London, retains statutory powers to intervene, call in the application, or override local decisions if the development is deemed critical to strategic London-wide housing delivery targets. Consequently, the ultimate fate of Crowlands Heath Golf Course will serve as a key test case for how London balances Green Belt protections against urgent targets for affordable housing delivery.