With Eastbrook Studios taking shape nearby and Beam Park still caught in planning limbo, Dagenham Dock’s future stands at a crossroads, one that could redefine what East London produces in the next decade.
Previously, the NELondoner explored how residents and traders in Dagenham felt about the neglect of their area, false promises and the changing landscape of the Dock.
To follow this, the team interviewed Margaret Mullane, MP for Dagenham and Rainham to discuss what’s next for the area; from Beam Park’s uncertain future, to new film and TV studios on track to transform Dagenham back to greatness.
Mullane’s regrets were shared with the residents of Barking and Dagenham over the scrapped projects of bringing Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields markets to the area.
The MP said: “I felt really sad and hugely disappointed.”
Mullane felt that everything in the south of the borough was coming together; with the markets, film studios and Beam Park station which she is hopeful for, coming in the future.
She said: “For me, those markets coming meant good, well-paid jobs and a future for the youth of the borough with very different trades, skills and jobs which has left me deeply disappointed.”
About the current state of the empty site, Mullane revealed that herself and her team are in regular contact with the City of London and have been having regular meetings with them.
She said: “They asked me if I would like housing on the site, which sounds marvellous, but the issue is a lot of local people feel like there is a lot of housing currently getting built which is not truly affordable.
“I have made it very clear that we want good well-paid jobs and decent industries coming, so that was the steer we gave them.”
Currently developers are out for soft-testing now and will meet with Mullane pre-Christmas to see how they are getting on, who wants the site, who’s interested and how they would like to go forward.
Mullane has suggested to developers in industries like AI, the motoring and construction that ‘we’ve got the talent here’.
Additionally, the development of Beam Park station, which would be an addition to the C2C line in East London between Dagenham Dock and Rainham, on the Tilbury loop, has faced constant delays.
The station needs the Department of Transport and C2C to bring it all together, but the project has been halted due to the delivery costs of materials and viability concerns, but Mullane disagrees.
She said: “Sadiq Khan has provided the budget and has completed a budget process to check that the money is there, but the station washes its face, in the sense that it can pay for itself.”
Former Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh previously said that if Labour came in to government, they will deliver that station — a promise and pledge that hasn’t changed even though the transport minister has.
Mullane said: “It’s just about getting it delivered and now we just wait for the delivery.”
Concerning the Eastbrook Studios, the Dock could potentially be moving on from heavy industries to backing Barking and Dagenham’s creative, media and production economy; an area which needs some TLC from the council.
This £300m, 12 sound stage investment transformed 21.5 acres of former industrial land into London’s largest film and TV campus which stands among the world’s finest.
Early reports mention around 1,200 jobs and an annual local economic boost of about £35 million from earlier stages of the project.
The cultural impact of the studio, which has been open since February of this year, are rooted in the project’s commitment to job creation, training and supply chain opportunities, particularly for the local community.
Barking and Dagenham Council has also recently adopted the Thames Road Supplementary Planning Document which sets out a vision for the riverside area including around 3,500 new homes, new industrial/creative business space and improved public realm along the Thames.
Meanwhile, the borough’s Green Infrastructure & Biodiversity Strategy is intact to promote the development of connected green grid routes, linking the Thames, local parks and waterways.
The strategy’s promise is to enhance biodiversity, improve flood resilience and create better walking/cycling links for residents.
When asked for her message to the residents, Mullane said: “I share their pain and I understand what their aspirations are and what they want for their families and their children.
“I wake up every day making sure that I get the best outcomes for Dagenham and Rainham, and that will continue.”
Featured Image Credit: Hackman Capital Partners
Join the discussion