Barking and Dagenham is at the heart of London’s eastward growth, attracting developers and investors to the most affordable and accessible opportunities in the whole of the Southeast. Be First is the redevelopment arm of Barking and Dagenham Council, and they plan to provide 50,000 high quality new homes and 20,000 new jobs by 2037 on the 400 hectares of development land available.

As part of the Townscape Heritage Project, Be First are restoring various Edwardian buildings in Barking’s Town Centre, largely funded by The National Lottery Fund with additional investment from the building owners, in the town-centre Conservation Area. The buildings will be restored to their original market town heritage, with the project being completed over several phases.

Be First have appointed HBS as Principal Contractor to carry out the external façade restoration to all the buildings. The £900k, 40-week schedule encompasses a range of works that includes roof replacement, stone and masonry replacement and restoration, structural repairs, window replacement and restoration, guttering and down pipe replacement, shop front replacement works and new awnings and security shutters to selected units.

During the early stages of the project there have already been some unexpected finds, such as an original shop front sign to 1-11 East Street which is being removed and placed in a local museum and the floral stone crest to 1 Station Parade which HBS will sympathetically restore.

HBS Project Director James Brett commented “We’re very excited to be part of this incredible project that will transform Barking Town Centre and to see these wonderful buildings getting the attention they deserve. I’m confident our Restoration Division will do an excellent job and restore them to their past glory!”

HBS have been delighted to welcome Jasmine Jandu, a student from Barking College, studying for a T-Level technical qualification in design, surveying and planning for construction on her work experience placement. Jasmine has been working with the HBS Restoration team since November 2021, helping to restore and lay brickwork to the buildings, even braving working at height, but as she said “I love it, it’s amazing and I’ve learnt so much.” We wish her all the best for her future.