Redrow Regeneration completes phase one of Barking Central

Mon, Jun 18th 2007, 10:00

The first major phase of Redrow Regeneration’s Barking Central project has been handed over, as the Barking Learning Centre gets ready to open its doors to the public for the first time on Monday, 18 June.

The £100 million Barking Central scheme will completely regenerate Barking town centre and is one of the first major schemes actually to emerge in the Thames Gateway region. The Barking Learning Centre, developed by Redrow Regeneration for Barking & Dagenham Council, will give residents access to a state-of-the-art library as well as unprecedented opportunities to enrol in further education. Phase one also comprises of 246 residential apartments built above the Learning Centre.

In partnership with the University of East London, the Adult College and Barking College, the BLC will offer a wide ranging of learning opportunities. Lecture rooms, IT facilities, a gallery, a café and conference rooms will all be open to the public. The facility also includes a new ‘one-stop-shop’, giving users access to a range of a council services. The Barking Learning Centre will be officially opened in a ceremony scheduled to take place in December.

John Ireland, Managing Director of Redrow Regeneration said: “We’re pleased to hand over the keys to this new Learning Centre which will be a fabulous facility for the local community and a focal point for education for the local people. And we’re delighted that this development has already kick-started a wider positive effect in raising the profile and value of the area. It’s testament to the commitment of the many people involved, in particular the main contractor Ardmore, that this development, is delivered on time, on budget and to a very high quality.  Following the successful completion of the first phase, we are eager to move forward with the regeneration of the wider area, following planning approval for the next phase.”

Councillor Sid Kallar, Executive Member for Regeneration at Barking and Dagenahm Council, said: “What a wonderful day for the residents of Barking and Dagenham. This state of the art centre has been conceived, designed, planned and built for them. We aim to provide our residents with the best facilities in which to develop and thrive.”

Cllr Kallar added: “I would like to thank in particular the developers Redrow Regeneration, and architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, for their high standards and professionalism throughout this challenging project. We can now look forward to the second phase in earnest.”
 
The library will carry a wide range of non-fiction, fiction and reference books, with over 50,000 volumes in stock. This will be complemented by a series of electronic journals and other online resources for learners. Visitors will be encouraged to use the new self-service facility which will allow them to avoid the queues and borrow and renew books through a self-service device. This new system will also alert customers when their book is overdue or is waiting to be loaned out by another customer.

Phase two of the scheme includes plans for a new public realm space larger than the size of Trafalgar Square, as well as a mix of residential, retail and commercial space.

Log on to www.redrow.co.uk/developments/view/189 for more details.