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£50m cinema and residential deal agreed for Barking town centre

A deal has been signed between the council and property specialist, Lindhill, to build a major residential and leisure development in Barking town centre.

The site of the old Abbey Sports Centre will be redeveloped to provide 147 private flats, one floor of office space for Care City, a three-screen art house cinema and three commercial units for new restaurants.

A planning application will now be in early spring 2016 with a view to construction starting in late summer 2016.

Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council said: “At a cost of around £50m, the scheme will complement other developments in the Town Square, Broadway Theatre and the Creative Industries Quarter. It represents a significant investment and will contribute towards our longer term aspirations of a vibrant evening economy in the town centre.

“With more cultural festivals throughout the summer and as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, Barking town centre is starting to deliver on our ambition to be the cultural capital of east London.”

The cinema will sit at the centre of the new development and will be an integral part of the town’s creative quarter.

Gary Fitzpatrick of Lindhill, said: “We are excited to be involved in the regeneration of Barking Town Centre and are confident that this mixed use high quality landmark development would enhance and complement the growing requirement for the borough’s aspirations.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .