Council Leader, Darren Rodwell, visited the Pocket Living Harbard Close development in Barking today 20 August 2020 with deputy Leader Councillor Saima Ashraf, to officially launch 78 brand new affordable homes.

The Pocket Living development, designed by Reed Watts, offers local first-time buyers the opportunity to get onto the housing ladder with 100% ownership affordable homes sold at 80% of local prices. The homes have been prioritised for key workers and the first home to be reserved is to a local community school teacher.

The one bed apartments start at just £192,000 and will remain affordable in perpetuity, helping future local first-time buyers to get on to the housing ladder. Residents will benefit from ample cycle parking, communal gardens and allotment beds to grow their own food.

Council Leader Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council,said: “It’s great to see another exciting development come to fruition in the borough.

“We want to make home ownership a reality for many more of our borough’s residents and this is yet another step in the right direction.

“I would urge residents who are looking to get on the property ladder to register their interest and take advantage of the show home opening this weekend for viewings.”

Marc Vlessing, Chief Executive of Pocket Living said: “This is our first development in Barking and Dagenham, an exciting area with much to offer and great ambition. 

“We are delighted to be able to offer 78 local people the opportunity to get onto the housing ladder.

“I am very proud of this development which has elegantly transformed this brownfield site into a place people will very soon be calling home.”

A local teacher is the first person to reserve a home at Harbard Close:

“I’m a teacher at a local school in Barking and currently live in a shared flat. Being a keyworker on a moderate income means home ownership within London is almost impossible. 

Reserving a Pocket home at Harbard Close means that I’ll own my own home which had previously felt unachievable at my age. I love the idea of having a communal garden and living walking distance from work.”