Policy information sourced from Barking and Dagenham Borough Wide Development Policies DPD

POLICY BE5: OFFICES – DESIGN AND CHANGE OF USE

New office (B1) developments in Barking Town Centre and the District Centres should:

  • Contain active street frontages.
  • Not conflict with or adversely affect the primary retail/service use function of centres.
  • Not be located at ground floor level within primary or secondary shopping frontages.
  • Not involve a net loss of housing.

In out-of-centre locations, new office (B1) developments should not conflict with or adversely affect the predominant existing land use

Any net loss of office space (whether in use or vacant) will only be considered acceptable if all of the following criteria are met:

  • There is evidence that the possibilities of re-using, refurbishing or otherwise improving the site to encourage continuing B1 office use have been fully considered and explored over a period of time.
  • The alternative scheme will contribute significantly to wider regeneration initiatives.
  • The alternative scheme will help to achieve a higher quality of design and / or improvements to the public realm.
  • If possible, employment and training opportunities are retained or created as part of the new development.

The Council’s preferred use will be community based and before other new uses are proposed, the possibility of provision of a beneficial community facility must have been fully and genuinely explored.

For more information please see the Borough Wide Development Policies DPD