New council housing for Barking and Dagenham
BARKING and Dagenham is set to receive a �3.2 million cash boost to help build much-needed new council homes in the borough. The government funding will be matched by the council and is expected to provide 34 houses at various sites in the borough. The
BARKING and Dagenham is set to receive a �3.2 million cash boost to help build much-needed new council homes in the borough.
The government funding will be matched by the council and is expected to provide 34 houses at various sites in the borough.
The news was announced by Housing Minister, John Healey, on Monday January 11, as he paid a visit to the Thames View Estate, in Barking - one of the areas chosen for development.
Mr Healey said most of the new houses will be three or four bedroom "family homes".
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All will be energy-efficient and built near private housing, to avoid creating an estate-like atmosphere.
The minister told residents, council representatives and Barking MP Margaret Hodge, he was aware the housing shortage was a "big issue" in the borough.
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However he acknowledged that 34 new houses would not solve all the problems.
Of the new homes, 10 will be built on two former garage sites in Charlton Crescent, on the Thames View Estate.
The cash boost is part of a nationwide �21 million contribution to the country's council home building projects.
It will form the second phase of a building plan announced in October which will see the first council housing built in the borough for 25 years.
The first phase will see 18 homes constructed with development expected to begin as early as February.
Barking and Dagenham council will contribute �7million from its own reserve fund to bolster the project.
On Monday Margaret Hodge thanked Mr Healey for supporting the council's new housing programme, and added: "Housing shortage is one of the biggest problems facing this borough at the moment. It is causing a lot of tensions among residents so I am very pleased to hear that the borough will be getting more homes."
Thames Ward councillor, Fred Barnes, said he was "delighted" with the cash boost.
And Dora Broome, 65, of Crouch Avenue, Thames View, said the plan to build more council homes would be welcomed by a lot of people in the borough.
"Many of my friends have children who have just started their own families and are struggling to get a council house. Some of them are worried they might have to move out of the area.
