First 68 affordable rent homes completed at Dagenham Green as residents prepare to move in
People will soon begin moving into 68 new affordable rent homes at Dagenham Green, as the first affordable homes at the former Ford site reach completion.
From next month, residents will collect their keys and start settling into their new homes. A further 67 affordable rent homes are due to be finished later this spring, bringing more much-needed homes to the area.
The homes form part of Phase One of Dagenham Green, a joint venture between Peabody and The Hill Group, on the 45-acre site next to Dagenham Dock station.
In total, this first phase will provide 935 homes, including 328 affordable homes. These include 135 homes for London Affordable Rent and 193 for Shared Ownership, giving local people more ways to access a home they can afford.
Residents have already started moving into the privately-owned homes in the neighbourhood, bringing new energy to this part of Barking and Dagenham.
The homes range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom maisonettes, designed for individuals, couples and families of different sizes.
Alongside the new homes, new green and community spaces are taking shape. Inspired by the surrounding marshland, the first part of a five-acre urban park will open later this year. It will include a large pond, children’s play areas and open space for residents and the wider community to enjoy.
There will also be 1,600 square metres of commercial space, supporting local jobs and services. This includes a new Sainsbury’s, serving both residents and neighbours.
Dagenham Dock station is just a short walk away, with direct trains into central London in around 20 minutes.
The development builds on the area’s proud history. Dagenham Green sits on land that was once home to Ford’s car stamping plant. Women sewing machinists there led the equal pay strikes of 1968 and 1984-85, helping to shape national change.
That legacy is reflected in the street names. Vera Sime Street, where some of the first affordable homes are located, is named after one of the key strikers from the 1968 equal pay campaign. Other streets are named after women involved in the protests. Building names draw on the Thames-side landscape, linking the area’s natural setting with its industrial past.
Later this year, the first section of a new heritage trail will launch to recognise the contribution of the Dagenham women who championed equal pay rights in the 1960s and 1980s. The trail will feature artwork by renowned contemporary artist Ruth Ewan.
Sustainability is built into the development. Energy for all homes is supplied by an air-source heat pump energy centre.
The scheme has been supported by funding from the Mayor of London’s Affordable Housing Programme.
Peabody, Hill, and their partners officially marked the completion of the first affordable homes with a ribbon cutting event joined by Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London, and Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking & Dagenham Council, alongside representatives from Peabody, Hill and project partners.
Tom Copley, the Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, said: “Dagenham Green is a great example of how former industrial land can be transformed to deliver the affordable homes Londoners need, including much needed four-bed homes for families.
“Sadiq and I are proud that support from the Mayor of London’s Affordable Housing Programme has helped unlock this site, bringing forward homes for the local community, while creating a sustainable new neighbourhood, as we work to build a fairer, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Cllr Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said:
“Great to be at the completion of more high-quality affordable homes in the borough, at the site of the historic Ford plant. But it’s not just more housing that is needed. That’s why I’m so pleased that this development includes a park for its residents and the community to enjoy.”
James McMylor, Managing Director for Development in London North for Peabody, said:
“Completing the first affordable homes at Dagenham Green is a really important milestone for us and our partners. Dagenham Green has a strong history, both as an industrial site that supported the community for generations and as a place where people stood up for fairness and change. Delivering affordable, family-sized homes here, alongside new green and community spaces, allows the site to continue serving local people in a new way. We look forward to welcoming new residents and wish them well as they settle into their new homes.”
68 Affordable Homes Complete at Dagenham GreenAndy Hill, founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said:
“Reaching this point at Dagenham Green is a real milestone for all of us involved. From the start, there’s been a shared ambition to provide much-needed new homes while also creating a vibrant neighbourhood with green spaces, play areas and facilities that help people connect with Dagenham and its past. Working closely with our partners has helped turn that vision into reality, and we look forward to seeing residents enjoy their new homes for many years to come.”
Phase One is expected to complete fully by 2029.
In total, the wider Dagenham Green masterplan will provide more than 3,500 homes, around half of them affordable, alongside parks and community facilities for local people.
