The industrial home of the future

Proposals to create modern business spaces of the future in the River Road Employment Area in Barking were given the thumbs up by Barking and Dagenham councillors at a planning committee on 16 February.

Industria – the brainchild of Be First, Barking and Dagenham Council’s regeneration arm – will be a high-tech business hub, situated just yards from both the Thames and Roding rivers. It could host a wide range of industries, such as a winery, specialist food production, jewellery makers and green industries,

Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Councillor Darren Rodwell, hailed the decision as another sign of the good times to come for Barking and Dagenham.

He said: “This is the sort of attractive and sustainable industrial development which will no doubt create quality jobs and a place where wine makers, artists and artisans will be able to thrive alongside more traditional trades.

“It’s another boost to this booming part of London which is increasingly seeing forward-thinking entrepreneurs and businesses make their way here.”

The development is supported by £1m of the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, delivered through the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), which will be invested alongside Barking and Dagenham Council’s investment of £33m.

Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, said: “I’m pleased to support this innovative and ambitious project – which is the first of its kind in London – and I look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring to the local economy in Barking and the wider area.”

Lily Kwong, Development Manager at Be First, said: “We’ve had a great deal of interest in this site which will be a fantastic place for ambitious businesses to base themselves, with a great location, excellent facilities and sustainability built-in.”

The development at the corner of Long Reach Road and Creek Road, Barking, will house tenants in flexible units arranged around a vehicle accessible multi-storey hub.

The experience for visitors and neighbours will be enhanced by green walls, business lounge, lively shopfronts and a new local café.

Importantly, Industria is expected to provide jobs for up to 250 people.

Key features:

• four storey core buildings arranged each side of the courtyard
• Flexible light industrial units from from 1700-5200 sqft (160-475 sqm) and flatted factory units from 140-2500 sqft (15-230 sqm)
• Goods lifts and vehicle ramp with vehicle access across three floors
• Business centre, meeting rooms and staffed reception
• Fully glazed ground floor shop units with a cafe - open to the public
• On-site parking and cycle parking
• Excellent BREEAM rating for sustainability and environmental impact
• Top quality landscaping
• An estimated 230-250 people employed on site

Building work at the site is expected to start in the Summer 2021.

Consultation has started on a new industrial hub at the heart of the River Road industrial estate in Barking.

Dubbed industria, the striking-looking building boasts top quality, flexible industrial workspaces in a modern structure that sets pioneering new standards for sustainability.

And, the experience for visitors and neighbours will be enhanced by a green wall, lively shopfronts and a new local café.

Lily Kwong, project manager for the council’s regeneration agency, Be First, explains: “Industria is a ground-breaking business development, designed to allow a large range of businesses to operate flexibly and efficiently on a compact, single site.

“It will provide modern business facilities with top quality sustainability credentials, to ambitious industrial enterprises of all shapes and sizes.

“Crucially, it will allow businesses to expand and grow in the borough, meaning more jobs for local residents.”

The building is proposed at the corner of Long Reach Road and Creek Road, and will consist of a three and a four story building, arranged each side of a courtyard. It will offer flexible light industrial units from 1,700-5,200 sqft (160-475 sqm) and flatted factory units from 140-2,500 sqft (15-230 sqm). The rents are expected to be in the region of £18-20 per sqft.

Access to the units will be via a vehicle ramp or goods lifts, with vehicle access across three floors. And, tenants will be able to take advantage of on-site parking and a business centre, with meeting rooms and a staffed reception.

The appearance of the building will be enhanced by fully glazed shop units and a cafe - open to the public, together with a green wall and high quality landscaping.

“We are keen to hear what local people – and local businesses – think about our plans before we apply to the council for planning permission”, adds Kwong.

More details of the project, and an opportunity to comment, can be found at yourcall.befirst.london/industria