Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Barking Central is one of the most successful regeneration projects in the UK. It has revitalised Barking town centre with a large mixed-use scheme of seven new buildings including a new Learning Centre, over 500 residential apartments, a 66 bed hotel, a bicycle shed for 250 bikes, nine retail units, a café, a new town square and an arboretum.

This project demonstrates that the real key to city centre development is in not throwing away old buildings but knitting old and new together to breathe new life into the city. Regeneration is about long term investment and a consideration for what really makes a difference. The ‘Barking Central Vision’ provides local people with better prospects, a greater choice of housing and a healthier living environment.

Delivered in two phases over 9 years, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) masterplanned and designed the buildings overcoming many challenges to create a scheme that symbolises the regeneration of this Thames Gateway town.

Officially opened in September 2007, Phase I of the development included the creation of the new Barking Learning Centre with over 250 apartments above and a public square, located opposite the existing Town Hall. The key construction challenge was the retention of the original 1970s library building and the design of a new concrete frame and transfer structure built over library to support the new housing above. Phase I was delivered four months early and within budget.

As with any large scale regeneration, the scheme faced challenges that were overcome with a positive attitude towards finding solutions and the successful working relationships with a complex client group including local authority, community organisations and developers. Despite the protracted programme and the difficult procurement process, high quality design remained central to the whole team’s ambition of what could be achieved. The quality and innovation throughout the scheme prove that public/private investment can work with the right team in place.  

The new Barking Learning Centre offers a much wider range of public amenities with ICT suites, conference facilities, a one-stop-shop, cafe, art gallery, classrooms as well as library facilities. AHMM persuaded the client to allow them to retain control the FF&E contract for the library - raising the standard to include bespoke furniture and branding/wayfinding by leading contemporary designers, including long-term collaborator Studio Myerscough. Since opening in 2007, the library has seen a dramatic increase in users and is now open until 10pm, bringing new life into the centre of Barking.