Barking Road

Key Features

The route starts in Canning Town District Centre, one of four District Centres in Newham. District Centres are defined in planning as providing convenience goods and services for local communities and accessible by public transport as well as walking and cycling. They typically contain between 10,000 – 50,000 sqm of shops, local services and leisure provision.

• You will cross Newham Way – another strategic radial route which passes through Newham.

• You will now be walking along Barking Road – as you head east you will pass through the following Local Centres:

  • • Abbey Arms Local Centre

    • Greengate Local Centre

    • Boleyn Local Centre

• You will finish your walk at the junction of High Street North and Barking Road, at the southern end of East Ham Major Centre.

This is the only Major Centre in Newham and is defined as having a borough-wide catchment area. Major Centres generally contain over 50,000 sqm of shops, local services and leisure provision and have shops which sell goods people buy less frequently as well as employment space and civic uses.

Activity

Follow the guided walking tour – using the map and map links below.

• As you are walking have a think about the following questions:

• Can you tell where the different centres start and end?

• Does the road change in character and function as you walk along it? What is it like to walk along this road?

• Do you see many cyclists?

• Does the road feel like it’s at the edge or the centre of a neighbourhood?

• Who do you think uses the different facilities (shops, local services, parks, playgrounds, schools, health centres, etc.)?

• How do you think most people travel to different parts of this route?

• Would this each of these centres meet all your basic needs?

• Where was most pleasant to be on this route and where was the least?

• Have you been here before? Would you come again? Why or why not?

Getting There

Start: Canning Town station and bus station 115, 300, 330, 5, 474, 309, Z2, 147, 309, 323, 69, 147, 241

End: East Ham station and buses 115, 147, 5, 58, 101, 104, 147, 376, 474, 238, 300, 325, 376, 474

Background Information

Why This Location?

London’s historic development and Newham’s geography means we have a number of strategic roads which cross the borough east/west, connecting central London to historic towns and cities to the east.

As development occurred along these routes, they became the main location for shops and services. Planning policy has sought to create distinct centres where shops and local facilities are protected and can benefit from being located close to other uses while being conveniently located for local residents. However, existing shops and facilities remain outside of these protected centres.

Barking Road is a strategic route which carries a significant level of traffic, much of it starting and ending outside of Newham. It also carries a large number of buses and follows a key desire line for cyclists and pedestrians who want to travel a direct route east-west.

The historical linear nature of London’s development compares to the aim of the 15 minute neighbourhood concept which is to develop more centres which are focussed on local connections, rather than cross city connections into a single centre.

How we resolve the challenges and opportunities created by Newham’s current development pattern and geography will be key to delivering 15 minute neighbourhoods.

Where Else Is It Like In Newham?

There are a number of major routes through Newham which have similar characteristics and roles: Romford Road, Newham Way, Royal Albert Way, North Woolwich Way.

Presentations and Further Information

• Land uses and planning policy along Barking Road – Dominique Barnett, LB Newham Planning Policy Team

• Transport considerations along Barking Road – Murray Woodburn, LB Newham Highways Team

• The Urban Design London Video on local neighbourhoods shown at the first Citizen Assembly day provides a useful explanation of the historic development of cities with strategic radial roads like Barking Road.