The Ministry for Housing, Community and Local Government has today (20 March) announced that Barking and Dagenham will receive £40million in Pride in Place investment to be spent over 10 years.
The two areas in the borough set to receive the funding are Mayesbrook Park and Rippleside, and Central Park and Frizlands Lane. The council will be working closely with local MPs on the plans for investment.
This long‑term investment will give communities significant opportunities to focus on local priorities and make lasting, positive changes. The programme aims to:
- Build stronger communities: bring people together to create strong, resilient communities where residents feel proud of where they live and feel safe in their neighbourhoods.
- Create thriving places: build vibrant neighbourhoods, a good range of local services, and high‑quality buildings, spaces and infrastructure.
- Empower people: create opportunities for residents to have a real say in decisions about their area and feel more in control of their lives and communities.
To ensure local voices are heard and the funding is invested into areas most in need, Neighbourhood Boards will be set up to plan how the investment will be administered.
Cllr Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “This is a fantastic investment into our borough, I can’t wait for us to start working with our communities to get this funding into the places most in need of it.
“Both of the chosen neighbourhoods include significant parkland, community facilities, public realm and local retail parades which would all benefit from investment and that will be communities to decide.
“Over the two areas in Barking and Dagenham, we’ll be able to invest up to £40million over ten years - this is a transformational amount and one we’re very excited about.
“Key to it all will be working with residents and giving them real power to breathe new life into the places they call home. We want everyone to be able to have a say in making their neighbourhoods places to be really proud of. It Starts Here.”
The announcement follows the news earlier in the year that the council has agreed how the first round of Pride in Place funding is to be spent in Barking and Dagenham.
Included in that round of funding were plans to invest in:
- St Chads Park Pavillion refurbishment
- Barking Learning Centre Family Hub improvements
- Park bridges repairs
- Rapid deployment CCTV camera
- Street cleansing equipment
- Match funding for our beavers and storks re-introduction plans
More information on today’s Pride in Place funding announcement can be found on the Government’s website.