Despite being seen by some Londoners as a rundown pocket of East London, Beckton is worth paying closer attention to. The housing stock is a mix of 1980s council housing and modest terraces, yet the neighbourhood boasts a plethora of green space - such as East Ham Nature Reserve and Gooseley Playing Fields. Visiting the neighbourhood on an average Saturday, you’ll run into the many community oriented elderly residents and empty-nesters strolling through the parks. You may also catch the postcode’s young professionals out running errands, many of whom have moved to the area due its proximity to Canary Wharf. Between the affordable house prices and the area’s edgy history as an industrial Gasworks site, Beckton is primed for a transformation similar to many of its more sought after East London neighbours.

Beckton initially developed in the mid-19th century when a sewage treatment works site was built to prevent raw waste from being dumped into the Thames. Eventually the sewage works grew into the UK’s largest site, treating more than 200 million gallons of waste a day. As such, much of the housing that started to appear in the area catered to the workers on this site. Later on, during the Second World War, the neighbourhood was home to a prisoner of war camp and was badly damaged during the Blitz. Following a period of neglect that followed this destruction, Beckton was regenerated along with the rest of the docklands area.

Beckton Alps, a former site for industrial waste, sits within this neighbourhood. The site was built out of waste that came from the nearby gasworks, as well as locomotive trains and the British Library. Locals once converted the site into a dry ski slope, but it has since been converted into a nature reserve.

The neighbourhood lacks a traditional London high street with independent shops. Instead, much of the area’s commercial activity is based at the chain stores in Gallions Reach Shopping District. Still, the area’s many transport connections make the ride to other parts of London an easy one. The three DLR stops in the area mean that Bank is just a 25 minute train ride away, and numerous bus lines make travel to other East London neighbourhoods easy.

Developers are beginning to pay close attention to Beckton. Known for its affordable real estate and plethora of space, it’s surprising that an area this close to Canary Wharf hasn’t been tapped into sooner. One large development which just reached halfway completion, is Beckton Parkside by Bellway Homes. This will be joined by Beckton Harbour Village, a similar development slightly further east by the same Developers. Bellway Homes has committed to providing over 20% of the units through affordable housing schemes. Additionally, they will be investing in parks, schools, health facilities, and cycling routes in the neighbourhood.