Ten Years of Inclusive Growth in Barking and Dagenham
Ten years have passed since the publication of No One Left Behind – Barking and Dagenham’s 20-year plan centred around inclusive economic growth, housing, development and regeneration. The Dialogue reflected on the impact of the plan, with some significant achievements including:
- Nearly 4,000 new homes built through the Council’s network of delivery vehicles and arm’s length companies, making Barking and Dagenham the top council house builder in 2023/2024, and retaining control over stock. Major regeneration initiatives delivered through the Council-owned company, Be First, to address outdated housing stock, temporary accommodation needs and provide new facilities for communities
- Transformation of local landmarks such as the Gascoigne Estate with its revitalised public space, and mix of high quality residential and commercial units
- Focus on employment development alongside housing, with London’s largest film studios being developed in the borough, as well as a structured programme connecting young people to the industry
Despite progress on built environment development and regeneration, structural deprivation indicators, such as child poverty, have been harder to shift. The borough has also been facing the challenge of borrowing costs incurred to fund delivery, which have become a difficult political story in the national context as council finances and regulations have shifted.
A parallel story in Manchester
In the Dialogue, a clear parallel emerged between Barking and Dagenham and Manchester. The northern city has seen one of the sharpest rates of productivity growth in the country, however the city’s leaders are now shifting their attention to ensuring local growth is felt by all residents. Some key challenges were identified in Manchester:
- A historic people/place investment gap – Capital investment in physical regeneration has far outpaced investment in people-facing services and communities. Economic growth has not automatically translated into reduced deprivation for residents. Social mobility can mean people often move out of Manchester city centre to neighbouring areas and suburbs, meaning that the city can struggle to capture the benefits.
- Institutional challenges – With leadership and partnerships being focused on the growth agenda, directing the system towards an inclusive focus can be operationally difficult, even when the political will exists.
