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One important factor which the Council have always had in
mind is that should they build some miles away from Barking they
would be imposing upon many of their people the additional burden
of daily travel which has long been recognised, in the London area
at any rate, as an expensive and exhausting experience.
The Council first discussed using this site in July 1949, but so
many difficulties were encountered that it was not until September,
1953, that they were able to enter into negotiations for the erection
of the first 113 dwellings on the site.
The acquisition of the site has involved long and varied negotiations.
Some 87 acres were in the possession of the Council and were
held as allotment and industrial land. Alternative land had to be
found for the allotment holders and negotiations were entered into
with both the local allotments Society and the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries and ultimately a transfer was agreed. The remaining
73 acres are being acquired from the British Electricity Authority
who have permitted the Council to enter upon the land pending
the completion of the purchase.
Town planning has loomed largely in the development of the
estate. It will be appreciated that the Essex County Council is the
town planning authority under the Town and Country Planning Act.
1947, and the Borough Council have had to submit all their development
proposals to the County Council. Arising thereout involved
discussions took place with the County Planning Office, and in
December, 1951, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
convened a conference of representatives of the County
Planning Committee and the Borough Council. he problems
were fully investigated and that month planning approval was
received from the County Council.
The Borough Council's proposals for a Regional Open Space
on land lying to the east of Renwick Road, will, when completed,
add greatly to the amenities of the estate.
The anticipated development of the estate is at the rate of some
300 dwellings a year and it will, therefore, take some 5-6 years to
complete. It is hoped by the planting of trees to materially improve
the general amenities of the estate and the Council look to the
tenants to assist in making this development a great success by the
proper cultivation of their front and back gardens.
It is anticipated that the total cost of the housing development
will be in the region of £3¾ million and although the rents may
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