Bouygues UK appointed as constructor for major London regeneration scheme

The first construction contract for an ambitious regeneration project in Barking, being jointly delivered by East Thames and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD), has been awarded to Bouygues UK.

East Thames and LBBD are renewing the eastern end of the Gascoigne Estate in Barking, with shared responsibility for funding, design, construction and maintenance. Bouygues UK has been appointed to deliver the first 190 homes as part of Phase One of the project, as well as the construction of an energy centre. Altogether, the contract represents a value of approximately £41.5m.

The beginning of this first phase represents a major milestone in the overall Gascoigne East Masterplan which will create 1,575 new homes, a secondary and primary school, green spaces and community centre over the next nine years. The masterplan itself forms part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s vast Estate’s Renewal Programme.

Designed by architects Levitt Bernstein and Allies & Morrison, the new homes will range from one to four bedrooms, and will be available through affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale. The first new homes will become available by 2018.

This first phase of the scheme has already won a ‘Project Award’ at the Housing Design Awards. The awards, promoted by the Greater London Authority and Department for Communities and Local Government, celebrate innovative and thoughtful design in planned and newly built developments across the public and private housing sectors in the UK. The winners were announced on 13th July 2015.

East Thames Director of Development, Trevor Burns, said: “Bouygues UK has a wealth of experience in delivering large scale regeneration projects and we’re confident that they will support us to deliver a very high quality product for Gascoigne East. We’re delighted that the first phase of the masterplan has already won an award for its innovative design. The project is a testimony to successful partnership working and we’re looking forward to delivering it hand in hand with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.”

Commenting on the new contract, a Bouygues UK spokesperson, said: “We have a strong presence in Barking and Dagenham through our existing relationship with the council, which has also seen us working on the mixed-use scheme on London Road and the Creative Ice House Quarter development at Abbey Road.

“We’re very happy to be working with East Thames and LBBD as part of the overall masterplan to regenerate Gascoigne Estate, as well as increasing our contribution to the wider regeneration of the borough as a whole.”

Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “We are very proud of our excellent partnership with both East Thames and Bouygues UK.

“We have a strong reputation for urban design and in our determination to grow our borough to meet not just the needs of our residents, but also our ambition to meet London’s housing needs. We will continue to work closely with our residents and partners to build sustainable communities.”

Levitt Bernstein’s Chairman Gary Tidmarsh said: “We are delighted that the new homes at Gascoigne East have been recognised as some of the best to be built in London. They will provide the opportunity to radically transform this part of Barking into a special new neighbourhood.”