First residents move into new riverside homes in London

The first group of residents have moved into their new homes at Barking Riverside, available through Southern Housing Group, which were recently completed.

Construction on the block of six three-bedroom houses was completed last month, marking the first of the Group's 167 new homes to be built in stage one.

Resident Nikisha Lewis said she was delighted with her new home.

"I feel really excited to move into this property with my family, I grew up around this area so it is nice to come back and settle here," she said.

One of the largest development opportunities in London, Barking Riverside is a 443 acre site situated in the heart of Thames Gateway along the River Thames.

The Group is the affordable homes provider for the first four sites, with affordable housing accounting for 42% of new homes on the first four sites.

Barking Riverside Ltd, a joint venture between the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Bellway Homes, is working in partnership with the Group, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to deliver the 10,800 new homes proposed for the site over the next 20 years.

Group development director, Dale Meredith, said the site was a major opportunity area for regeneration.

"Barking Riverside provides a best practice model for sustainable living in the 21st century with all homes meeting Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

"Our affordable properties are a mix of one, two and three bedroom flats as well as three and four bedroom houses, with over 80 per cent of housing within the first four sites catering for families. The development offers a mixed tenure, environmentally sustainable community and is an ideal location for those seeking affordable family homes with easy access to Central London."