30 Oral History: An investigation of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Development Strategy in LBBD “There is massive deficit in public amenities - a lack and there should be more. Especially noting the huge amount of developer activity that builds housing units of variable quality and safety and neglects social infrastructure - transport, GP, post office etc…” “So, if you look at the council cooperate plan strap line from 2012 it talks about constructing 50,000 homes, so... those housing units are going to go somewhere and predominantly they are going to go here in the borough. The land that this development near Valance House used to be a vastly contaminated area, which was worth not very much but now is worth billions… and then If you look at the council’s inclusive growth strategy, then one of the challenges is how, what will you achieve in terms of growth; because growth varies in proposition. There will be physical growth as you construct the schemes, there maybe some economic growth. BREXIT is quite uncertain. Social, in terms of inclusive, well usually not. Usually that doesn’t happen and people who are either homeless or otherwise, who will be resettled in the Midlands or north west for example. So there is a real challenge in terms of the pressures from the housing market...” “It is divisive and a form of social cleansing and gentrification. There is a lack of scrutiny on planning issues and a failure to provide a duty of care to residents. Especially looking back to the fire which devastated 20 homes similarly to Grenfell”. The interview made it quite clear that there are number social issues throughout the borough and the councils approach to tackle these issues through development is not the right answer, as it does not provide inclusive growth to the extend predicted. Companies such as; Be first and Barking Riverside often market their concepts to the public but fail to deliver an accurate report at the end of construction. Furthermore, public engagement programs which are hosted in the vicinity of the development often compromises community project. Matt explained on one occasion, a small gardening club in the Thames ward required some piece of land for temporary use, he contacted the developer of Barking Riverside asking to occupy for a small piece of vacant
phase 4 land. He then stayed that; “On numerous occasion the developer just ignored my requests and simply pushed responsibility of the matter around various bodies in the organisation”. This meant that the public engagement is superficial to the extent provided in their delivery of the project. After out meeting, he introduced us to Lye Owengo, who is a mental health supervisor at GLA, and overlooks the vast number of mental health programs in the borough. Lye, as a resident of Barking and Dagenham felt that the social issues are being undermined through the focus of development. He stated; “There is a huge demand for funding in the community projects and mental health awareness. The council has provided some arrangements in regard to tackling metal health issues in the borough, but majority is managed by charities and community engagement programs.“
