Last month, outline proposals for the regeneration of Barking town centre in Essex identified capacity for an additional 4000 homes, half of which could go to key workers.
But a number of councillors have confirmed that some residents are worried about plans to build more than 100 homes per hectare in parts of the town. In wards where housing density is already high, preliminary consultation has shown widespread opposition.
Julian Lewis, principal partner of EAST, the urban design company that drew up the regeneration masterplan on behalf of Barking & Dagenham council, said: "Residents are scared about extra building and what it might mean for the area. Their concerns have been passed on to some of the councillors who represent the wards that will be affected.
"People can't imagine change, and there is still a misconception that density means poor quality and that tall buildings are bad."
The news will come as a blow to both the Greater London Authority and the London Development Agency, both of whom consider the development of Barking as key to helping the government meet its targets for affordable housing in south-east England.
Earlier this year deputy prime minister John Prescott identified the Thames Gateway as the site for a potential 140,000 homes by 2016.
As part of the moves to deliver on this, Barking emerged as a strong candidate for early construction because of its well-developed transport infrastructure.
Mark Brearley of the GLA's architecture and urbanism unit said: "In Barking there's a potential to deliver quickly, and at the sort of density that is sustainable, in advance of other locations in the Thames Gateway."
Barking & Dagenham council, however, was keen to downplay the unpopularity of plans for high-density housing. Jeremy Grint, head of regeneration, said: "The issue is not density. It's about quality and bringing in better local facilities, not a question of objections."
The finalised regeneration plan for Barking is expected next year, and the GLA has expressed hopes that significant amounts of housing will be built by 2005. Funding for the scheme is to be worked out in the next two to three months.
Source
Housing Today
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