The London Borough of Barking

The London Borough of Barking

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has varying degrees of infrastructure, historic assets and new developments dividing the landscape. Therefore, I visually analysed how these physical segregation through infrastructure and development sit in their contexts and whether they enhance or diminish the qualities within the borough. The colour “red” illustrates divisive boundaries in the borough.

Barking Station and 360 Barking Development

Upon entering the borough, my immediate impressions were that this borough is of low standards, and that the diversity of people reminded my to Brick Lane. However, as I wondered around the borough, it became more apparent how the divide in the communities, infrastructure and places of personal interest segregated the landscape into clusters of history, industry and development. Current plans of the boroughs development aim to regenerate Barking Station as well as regenerate the shopping mall adjacent to the station.

Barking Abbey Green and River Roding Development

One of the largest developments that is currently being constructed is occurring with the close proximity of the Barking town centre, adjacent to river Roding. The development aims to offer financial sector jobs, residential flats and creative arts practices through the Creative Arts Council. However, many residents claim and fear that these types of developments do not enable local population to benefit and the scale of these developments are aimed to solely enable new residents to inhabit the borough where existing infrastructure is already strained. Furthermore, this development is situated adjacent to one of the most historic assets of the UK, the Barking Abbey. This development in its future prospect does not aim to enhance the historic assets as already seen with 360 Barking.

Barking Abbey Green and River Roding Development

Close up of the Roding development with Barking Abbey in the foreground. Does this development really appreciate the World Heritage Site situated in Barking.

On route to the A13

One of the striking aspects in the borough are the appearance of blocks of flats, which randomly cluster towards the A13. These blocks of flat feel rather old, though seem like they are strategically built to be part of future development prospectus through BeFirst regeneration. Furthermore, the context usually varies though always seem to have primary school or educational facilities.

The A13

The largest division in the physical landscape of the borough is the A13. The strip of motorway divides the borough into 4 quadrants, with both north and south division and through the historic division in the boroughs between Barking and Dagenham. The A13 segregates industry from residential and acts as both a tool to feed the boroughs industries and as limit the growth of industry beyond the A13 as observed with the limited developments that occurring north of the Barking and Dagenham.

The A13 and the Industrial Landscape

This view towards the entrance of the A13 engaging barking with its neighbouring borough across the river Roding, one of the hardest boundaries was the smell of sewage and waste that pollutes the river. The scent distinctly forced me and Anjali who accompanied me on this journey to cross the other side of the A13 to escape the scent. Furthermore, litter and the dirty pavement deterred pedestrian use of the A13, with obstacles such as mattresses and large plastic sheets polluting the landscape.

Creekmouth Industrial Landscape

Industry is highly concentrated to the south of the borough of Barking and Dagenham. Furthermore, the density is highest in the borough of industrial practices with numerous wharfs and clusters adjacent to the river Roding. However, the release of industrial land and the diminishing opportunities of creative practice in the borough has started to lead to a decline in these industrial opportunities as most of the population seeks to find better paying jobs.

Creekmouth Industrial Landscape

Walking through Creekmouth, one key observation was the lack of pedestrianisations of the area. Majority of the circulation was through transport routes such as the Buses E1, E2 and E3. Furthermore, the smell and pollution of the area made it difficult to breath and with large sites of rubble and sand for industrial use. In addition, the area formed a hard boundary between the riverside development. The area is under going vast change and theses industrial areas are under threat to be run down in the future.

Creekmouth Industrial Landscape

Approaching the gulf of the development, the started to open up towards the riverside development, however, the situation of area shows numerous areas of low level flooding. The area still has a hard stench with the sewage works opposite the river.

The Dagenham Sunday Market

The Dagenham Sunday Market is an important asset to the borough which provides jobs and is a place to meet with friends and family. With over 600 stalls and a total capacity of up to 15,000 people, the market is a key asset to London. However, with the development of Barking River side, the market is under threat to be repositioned somewhere else in the borough. The market is accessible with numerous transport links with majority of people coming to the market by cars. However, pedestrian routes are widely accessible through the riverside project and not through Creekmouth.

Barking Riverside

Barking Riverside is Europe’s largest regeneration project, with over 10,000 homes as well hotels, shopping malls and public amenities being constructed. The regeneration is supposed to implement Barcelona into London, with cheap housing prices and bordering nature reserves for the new population of Barking and Dagenham. However, many argue that this project is not for the native population of the borough, thereby segregating the communities between the north and the south, with a higher concentration of public amenities being hosted for the development.

Barking Riverside and Creekmouth

Upon entering the development area, you are riddled with numerous lorries entering the sites and construction noise. The first thing that shows us what is happening is a big number “1” which corresponds to the Barking Riverside Development.

OAPF Barking Riverside

The development is surrounded by industrial land, thereby the bordering plots of land adjacent to the development are distinctly run down. The littering and broken fencing forms a distinct boundary between the new and old.

OAPF Barking Riverside

As you approach the development you are led down Hadley page Road, where phase 1 constructed residential units occupy the once brownfield site. Furthermore, the area is far cleaner and visually pleasing with its landscaping than Creekmouth.

OAPF Barking Riverside

The riverside development is located in a place where transport, infrastructure connections are well integrated and with city airport right next to its door step, the development is easily connected to the city‘s fabric. However, the public amenities that are being implemented are for those who will reside in the “Barcelona of London”. Therefore, its public approach has impacted many communities that are close to the Thames Ward.

Barking Riverside Project Office

This new road leads you to the new high school that has been constructed and has the Barking Riverside Sales and Project office, which both me and Anjali had visited. We spoke to someone called Vanessa, who we talked in regards to the various aspects of the development. We talked about the affordability to expected construction completion of the project. We also enquired about “exchange” within the local community. She explained how each step of the way the development engaged with the public through meetings, and question answer sessions.

The Nature Reserve

Barking riverside hosts a nature reserve for certain plants and bird species. The area is largely flooded throughout the year, though on this occasion the site clean and easily accessible via slip road from the riverside projects office.