UK-Barking: Architectural and related services

Architectural and related services to support the development of circa 4000 social housing for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council.

Overview

Be First has an ambitious development programme that seeks to deliver more than 3,000 – 4,000 homes in Barking and Dagenham within the next four years. The aim is to harness the opportunities presented by growth in East London and the Borough, ensuring local residents benefit from new development, through high quality place making, provision of new high-quality affordable housing, with supporting infrastructure. Barking and Dagenham is the one of the most diverse boroughs in London, so it is critical that the places and buildings designed within it reflect the diverse needs and lived experiences of its residents.

Be First is a limited company wholly owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council but operating independently. Whilst Be First is seeking to accelerate housing delivery, it is also seeking to deliver high quality housing and open spaces, to deliver comprehensive regeneration that will radically improve the look and feel of Barking and Dagenham, so that it is an attractive destination to live, work and play. This is to be achieved in the context of providing a financial return to the council.

Be First is seeking to create a suitably qualified and knowledgeable Designer Framework, led by Architects, to submit full planning applications for pipeline schemes and develop proposals to RIBA Stage 3 including coordination and detailed design as outlined in the scope and deliverables with the option to be retained post contract. The final schemes will be fit for purpose, sustainable, efficient, coherent, flexible, responsive to context, aesthetically appealing and a clear expression of the requirements of the briefs.

II.2.14) Additional information

To give an idea of the type and scale of projects which will be available through the new framework please see below for some recent projects which have been tendered :

Gascoigne West Phase 3

As the final phase of Gascoigne West, this parcel fits within the larger Gascoigne Estate regeneration programme comprised of ‘Gascoigne East’ and ‘Gascoigne West’ separated by Gascoigne Road running north to south from Barking centre to the A13. Within Gascoigne West there is the potential for future Phase 4 that may later be brought forward. Any proposal for Phase 3 should strike a balance of completing the works under the outline plan whilst not prejudicing future development potential of Phase 4.

It is important that the proposed development be a pleasant place to live for residents while also efficient to build and maintain by LBBD. As part of this efficiency modern methods of construction will be considered from the outset, with an MMC strategy being developed in collaboration with client and contractor partner during RIBA Stage 2.