Barking Town Centre
Interim Planning Guidance
Planning policy for Barking Town Centre
As part of the continuing regeneration of Barking Town Centre, the Sustainable Development Group has produced an Interim Planning Guidance for the future of Barking Town Centre.
The Interim Planning Guidance serves as a guide to developers, the community and the council on what types of land uses and development we want to achieve in the Town Centre in the future. It was adopted by the council in December 2004 following extensive consultation.
What is the Interim Planning Guidance?
The Interim Planning Guidance is a non-statutory document that provides policy guidance that will fill the gap between our existing adopted Unitary Development Plan and more up to date national and regional planning guidance.
The Interim Planning Guidance will be used until our current Unitary Development Plan is replaced by the new development plan, which will be known as the Local Development Framework.
The Interim Planning Guidance is used in the decision-making process for all planning applications in Barking Town Centre.
Introduction to the policies of the Interim Planning Guidance
The Interim Planning Guidance aims for development which will:
- Improve and reinforce Barking Town Centre's strategic role as the centre of retail, social and civic importance for existing and new communities in the Thames Gateway
- Significantly improve the natural and built environment by considering high-quality design and sustainable features in buildings
- Contribute to a successful economy and meet the needs of all of the community
- Contribute to attractive streetscapes and interesting public spaces, making the town centre a popular and safe meeting place
- Make sure that different types of accommodation are available, contributing to a mixed and balanced community
- Take advantage of the public transport links in Barking and contribute to the ease of movement around the town centre
There are 2 main parts to the Interim Planning Guidance. In the first part specific policies have been produced for the Town Centre's key areas. The key areas are:
- High street network
- A406 strip
- River edge strip
- Parks
- Housing renewal sites
The second part of the Interim Planning Guidance sets out core policies to be applied to all uses and developments within the Town Centre.
Specific policies include:
- Increasing the mix of uses in the Town Centre
- Providing housing types better suited to the Town Centre
- Providing higher quality urban design and architecture
- Ensuring access for all and reduce dependency on car travel
- Increasing the sustainable design measures incorporated into new buildings
- Ensuring the impacts of development are addressed through legal agreements between the council and developers
For further information, please contact the Sustainable Development Group.
Interim Planning Guidance 
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