Barking and Dagenham
Planning & Building Contacts

Around six conservation areas include historic Barking town centre, where the ruins of Barking Abbey (Scheduled Ancient Monument) affect development in the vicinity. The Barking Riverside development zone is one of the largest housing-led regeneration projects in London. Contaminated land from former Ford Dagenham and other industrial uses requires Phase 1 and Phase 2 investigation reports for most new development. Thames Gateway Parklands and the River Roding corridor have ecological designations.

Building regulations approval is required for most structural work, extensions, loft conversions, new windows and heating system changes. You may use either the council's own building control service or a private Approved Inspector. For listed buildings, building control must be coordinated with Listed Building Consent requirements.

Barking Abbey ruins (Scheduled Ancient Monument) are the principal heritage asset in the borough - one of the largest Benedictine nunneries in medieval England. Valence House (Grade II*) is the borough's most significant historic house. Listed building numbers are relatively low compared to inner London boroughs, but conservation area designations protect historic Barking town centre and several residential streets. Listed Building Consent is required in addition to planning permission for any works to a listed building that would affect its special architectural or historic interest, including internal works.

Extensive areas of the borough lie within Flood Zones 2 and 3 from the tidal Thames and River Roding. The Barking Riverside development zone is subject to detailed flood risk management requirements. A Flood Risk Assessment is required for development in Flood Zone 2 or 3. Legacy contaminated land across much of Dagenham also requires site investigation for residential development.