London has had a chronic shortage of housing for well over 30 years. This doesn’t just mean there are lots of people who can’t afford a decent roof over their heads - it also means lots of other people are spending far too much of their income on mortgage or rental payments with a corresponding... Continue Reading →

Central to our vision of the New East is a commitment that we are going to secure our fair share of London’s growth, and that we are going to harness our unique potential to build a regenerated, inclusive and resilient Barking and Dagenham. Over the next 20 years we will deliver over 50,000 new homes... Continue Reading →

A strong community has two crucial ingredients; pride in itself and aspiration for the future. As our industries declined over the past forty years it did not only impact on the income and employment of our residents, it changed the character of our community. The working-class aspiration and civic pride which once characterised us began... Continue Reading →

The wretched consequence of austerity means that for the whole public sector this is a time of ever-squeezed budgets and increasingly complex and demanding populations. Today the values of Attlee and Beveridge’s welfare state are as relevant as ever – that through housing, healthcare, welfare and education every citizen, regardless of income, will be supported... Continue Reading →

Through a deep understanding of this borough we have developed a bold new approach to the challenges of the twenty-first century. We are building the New East. The New East is an approach to community which embraces growth but remains mixed, balanced and inclusive. It is an approach to public services which are enabling, preventative... Continue Reading →

As Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, I am a Champion of the Borough in which I have spent my entire life. Armed with a deep and representative understanding of the local culture and history, my job is to listen to my community and help it get where it wants to go. Once I have heard... Continue Reading →

We celebrated the 50th anniversary of all London boroughs in 2015. I grew up here in Barking and Dagenham. As a child, I lived in a low-rise near Caddis Court and went to Leys Infant, John Perry Juniors and Eastbrook Schools. Just before becoming a teenager we moved into a council house in Chadwell Heath... Continue Reading →