Barking and Dagenham Council has ambitious plans to deliver a £1 billion town centre rebuild and is looking for a select list of builders capable of delivering it. Entirely owned by the council, the urban regeneration company Be First aims to create a panel of contractors to deliver over 40 projects.

Architects West Williamson + Partners have drawn up the town centre regeneration plans, which have at its heart the existing listed station building. 2,200 new homes will be built, together with new commercial and social infrastructure, all connected by over two hectares of new clean, green, accessible open spaces.

Moreover, the masterplan also includes significant over-track development, which will create a series of urban quarters linked by a reinvigorated high street and capillary routes.

The construction framework will be divided into two lots – one covering projects worth up to £20 million and the other projects valued at over £10 million. Lot one has an estimated value of £250 million over the next four years, while Be First expects Lot two to account for up to £750 million worth of projects.

Firms interested in the scheme have until the 9th of July to complete proqual documents, available on the e-sourcing site: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Barking:-Construction-work./SY8JJ34E6T.

Be First has already confirmed the appointment of architects to deliver the next phase of the Gascoigne Estate East rebuild, known as Weavers Quarter. White Arkitekter will deliver the detailed design for phase two, while HTA Architects will deliver phase three of the scheme which involves over 500 homes.

In total the estate renewal will see over 1,575 new homes being built, along with the new primary and secondary schools, an energy centre, community centre, play areas and retail space. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2024.