Thames Ward is the largest in the borough and is a mix of residential housing, industry and large areas of new building. The vast majority of the Ward is cut off from the rest of the borough by the A13 running all the way across the north of the Ward.
Most significantly Thames Ward is home to Barking Reach and the current and planned redevelopment of the area. Currently Barking Reach Phases 1 and 2 have been completed, and planning permission has now been granted for remaining area. Barking Reach is one of the largest redevelopment areas in England a key development area of the Thames Gateway. There plans to build homes for 26,000 people, integrated community facilities and amenities, New Employment for 1,500 people, access to 2km of Thames river front.
The site comprises of 350 acres of which 40 will be open space. There are also plans for 2 new primary schools and a secondary school, Neighbourhood and district shopping centres and a rich ecology park. New infrastructure at the site will mean travel times of 35 minutes from the City via Barking Town Centre, 12 minutes by Docklands Light Railway to Canary Wharf and 15 minutes by East London Transport to Barking transport hub.
Thames Ward currently has one of the lowest populations in the borough at 9,278 however due to the level of development in the ward the population predictions show an estimated population of 24,696 by 2028 at growth of approximately 15,000. This will result in Thames having the largest population in the borough.
The majority of residential housing in Thames is the Thames View Housing Estate which comprises of a mix of terraced, semi detached and flatted accommodation, which were predominantly council owned. Under the Right to Buy scheme for local authority tenants many of these properties are now privately owned. As of the 2001 Census, 12% of households in Thames Ward were 'owned with a mortgage' compared to 49% that were 'rented from the local authority'. Also in Thames Ward is Goresbrook Village, 3 high-rise tower blocks overlooking the A13 and Castle Green.
In section 2 of the Ward Profile, the Index of Multiple Deprivation index 2004 shows that 2 of the Ward's 6 lower super output areas fall within the top 10% most deprived in the country. This is backed up by the high unemployment rates and the fact that Thames has the 3rd highest number of Working Age Benefit Claimants, with Incapacity and Lone Parent benefits being the highest types of claim.
Kim Vasa
Neighbourhood Manager
Sue Bramley Centre
Bastable Avenue
Barking
IG11 0LG
Tel: 020 8724 1038
Mobile: 07971 111 657
Fax: 020 8270 6620
Email: kim.vasa@lbbd.gov.uk|
