Times are changing in London with Barking and Dagenham, the capital’s most affordable borough, seeing the biggest increase in property prices in 2022. Rising by an average of 6.6%*, affordability is a growing concern for and high on the agenda of any buyer.
Offering a variety of different buyers an affordable opportunity to set down roots in the flourishing community of Barking Riverside, L&Q has launched a new phase of homes at Iris Quarter on 31st January. This comprises a total of 45 homes for sale and another 168 homes available through Shared Ownership. In the initial release, a selection of three-bedroom duplexes for sale and one-, two- and three-bedroom Shared Ownership homes will be available.
A major new neighbourhood for the borough, Barking Riverside will deliver over 10,000 homes for East London once complete. Meanwhile, residents welcomed the opening of two landmark transport connections last year; the London Overground extension to the brand-new Barking Riverside station and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Pier have unlocked the development for purchasers seeking a community-spirited neighbourhood with swift links into central London.
From the Barking Riverside station, residents can make use of the new Overground route which enables journey times of just 22 minutes into Central London. Offering further connections, the Hammersmith and City line, District line, and the C2C services all run from nearby Barking Station, which is just a 7-minute service from Barking Riverside. By boat, the Uber Boat route connects Barking Riverside to Woolwich in just 9 minutes, from where the DLR is directly accessible.
Claire Brenlund, Sales and Marketing Director at L&Q comments, “2022 was a very exciting year for Barking Riverside with the opening of two new major transport services for the development. We are welcoming all types of new buyers, from families seeking larger houses to young professionals looking for stylish contemporary apartments, all of whom will have buying options in our upcoming launch at the end of the month.
As the development grows, Barking Riverside continues to be home to a well-established and proudly diverse community, with many residents playing leading roles in making the neighbourhood an exciting and fulfilling place to live. L&Q buyers can secure themselves a quality home and become part of a truly unique community which is set to benefit from even more facilities in the future.”
When it comes to the homes themselves, all L&Q’s homes feature spacious open-plan kitchen/dining areas, with contemporary kitchens which make for the ultimate entertaining zone. Sizable bedrooms benefit from large windows, which flood the rooms with natural light whilst bathrooms are fitted with modern white sanitaryware and chrome fixtures. A must-have for modern living, every home has a private balcony or terrace.
A short walk from Iris Quarter is The Wilds, a multi-purpose community, ecology and events space that was recognised at both the RICS Regional Awards and the Planning Awards last year, winning the ‘Community Benefit’ and ‘Partnership Working’ categories, respectively. The Wilds is home to the community-run café, GROUNDED, as well as hot desking spaces for young professionals seeking an alternative to working from home. Delivering further convenience, a Co-op has recently opened on the same road, providing a one-shop stop for all the essentials. Family buyers interested in L&Q’s three-bedroom duplexes are well-catered for when it comes to educational facilities. There are currently four schools at Barking Riverside, including two primary schools, a large Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” secondary school, and a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school. There are also two private nurseries and a preschool on site. A further three schools will be delivered as part of the Barking Riverside masterplan.
For those eager to keep active, a network of new cycle and walking routes run throughout the development. Successful in bringing the community together, the development hosts a jam-packed schedule of events throughout the year which have previously included Supper Clubs, sports days, arts and crafts events and winter markets. Barking Riverside also has numerous community groups that people can join, from a resident events panel to an editorial board who write the local newsletter, enabling residents to play an active role in their neighbourhood.
