With prices predicted to rise between 4-18 per cent over the next five years, new builds in Barking and Dagenham may be a good investment, but which developers offer the best lifestyle? We’ve asked residents to describe their experience buying and renting in the area. Who did they rate? Let’s find out.
New build homes in Barking and Dagenham: Top 10 developments
So, you’ve decided that a new home in Barking and Dagenham is right for you. But which offer the best value for money? Whether it’s location and lifestyle or on-site facilities and the quality of the management, our residents have a lot to say about the area’s developments. Here’s the best of the bunch.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Where is Barking and Dagenham?
The East London borough of Barking and Dagenham lies around 9 miles (14.4 km) east of Central London. Besides the towns of Barking and Dagenham, Chadwell Heath is the third main settlement. Havering borders to the east, Newham to the west and Redbridge to the north. The River Thames runs along the south side.
Living in Barking and Dagenham
Barking and Dagenham sits within the London Riverside section of the Thames Gateway – a regeneration project stretching 40 miles from London into Essex and Kent. While this will include a flurry of new homes, shops, restaurants and amenities, the area will also become a hub for eco-industry and carbon-neutral zones. Barking town has been designated London Riverside’s strategic centre, with Dagenham Dock set to host the London Sustainable Industries Park.
Other plans include a new Overground station at Barking Riverside – an extension of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line meant to open this autumn. The borough is also receiving a £100m investment in its film and TV industry as part of the 22-acre Eastbrook Studios development. This could lead to a major boost in employment, strengthening the local economy.
These initiatives will likely push up house prices over the coming years. While you wait, you’ll find plenty to amuse you, from a collection of country parks and nature reserves to Becontree Heath Leisure Centre’s Olympic-sized swimming pool and a great range of shopping and health facilities. Although the borough doesn’t have its own university, Coventry University has a campus based in the former Grade II listed civic centre. It offers a range of courses with flexible study schedules and entry requirements.
Travel in Barking and Dagenham
The borough is well connected to the rest of London and the surrounding regions by road and rail. The Hammersmith & City and District lines serve the local Underground stations, while National Rail c2c services call at Dagenham Dock and Barking railway stations, with many terminating at Fenchurch Street. Regular trains also run to Grays, Southend, and Shoeburyness in Essex. Overground services operate from Barking station, while the Elizabeth line will soon connect to Chadwell Heath.
Several London Buses operate in the borough, with the N15 and N86 night buses travelling into Central London, Stratford, Romford and Harold Hill. The A12 and A13 thread through the north and south, respectively. Cyclists are well catered for too. Beginning in Barking, the Cycle Superhighway 3 stretches to Canary Wharf, the City of London and Westminster. Most of the route is separated from other road traffic, and TfL plans to extend the network to Barking Riverside.
Barking and Dagenham property prices
Recent data from Rightmove shows that the average price for property in Barking and Dagenham is currently £353,000 (November 2024). Terraced homes drove most of the sales, achieving around £385,000. While the average cost of a flat was £231,000, semi-detached properties fetched around £434,000.
Rental properties in Dagenham cost around £2,000 PCM. Meanwhile, lets in Barking average at £1,850, although prices fell more in line with Dagenham when the figures took the median average into account. This is according to a recent market analysis by Home.co.uk.
Barking and Dagenham Council also operate an affordable housing company, Reside, designed for working residents who struggle to afford private rentals and have limited access to social housing. The scheme lets properties at 65–80 per cent below the market rate, depending on an applicant’s income. Homes include one and two-bedroom new-build apartments in Barking’s Weavers Quarter, Abbey Road, Chadwell Heath and various other locations.
Do any of our resident-rated new homes in Barking and Dagenham pique your interest? Click on the area guide below to read all the in-depth reviews we’ve collected and learn more about the area.
HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
