The long-awaited Barking and Dagenham 2037 Local Plan has reached a critical juncture, as the Council received the final report from the Planning Inspector on August 15th, 2024. The report concludes the examination process that began with the plan’s submission to the Secretary of State in December 2021.

The Planning Inspector has deemed the Local Plan “sound,” contingent on several “Main Modifications” included in the report. These modifications, essential for the Plan’s approval, address key areas of adjustment required for its successful implementation. The Council also plans to introduce “Additional Modifications” to correct minor typographical errors and update factual details; these changes are not related to the Plan's overall soundness.

The 2037 Local Plan, which outlines the strategic framework for development in Barking and Dagenham over the next decade, has undergone extensive scrutiny, including two rounds of public hearings and modification consultations. The Plan is now poised for adoption, pending final approval at an Assembly meeting scheduled for next month.

Council officials have made the Regulation 19 version of the Local Plan, along with the Inspector’s Report and the Main Modifications, available for public review. These documents can be accessed at Barking Town Hall and Dagenham Library, as well as online via the Council’s website.

Once adopted, the 2037 Local Plan will serve as a fundamental part of Barking and Dagenham’s development strategy, guiding future planning applications and decisions across the borough. The final version of the Local Plan, incorporating all modifications, will be published following its adoption.

The relevant documents can be viewed on the Council’s website.