With urban regeneration breathing new life into this historical part of London, what is Barking like today? What can buyers and renters expect when they look east in search of affordable property? Come find out, as we tour the top-rated new build homes in Barking.
New build homes in Barking: 10 highest rated developments
The following are the top 10 best rated new build homes in Barking. As always with HomeViews, this list is determined by the scores given on verified reviews from actual residents.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
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Jumping up from 5th place to 1st in recent months, Abbeville Apartments is a residential development of much interest to Barking-bound renters. There are one, two and three-bedroom apartments here – all rental only. Close by is Barking train station, which means easy access for residents to the town’s Overground, National Rail and District line services.
Taking the number 2 spot, Apo Barking is a development situated on the banks of the River Roding and opposite Abbey Park. It features a range of studios, and 1 and 2-bed apartments. Residents can choose from a range of flexible leases and apartment upgrades. In addition, they can access plenty of amenities and facilities on site. These include an exclusive onsite gym, The Barking Local, a co-working and lounge space as well as The Hub, the Apo HQ where residents can get help with any day-to-day stuff. There’s also a members’ roof terrace on the 7th floor. Residents can also manage their home and membership through the Apo app.
The bronze medal goes to Discover Apartments, a development by Country & Metropolitan, which features 254 residential units with a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside a canoe club. The development is situated alongside the River Roding and Barking station is only a 17-minute walk away, with connections to the Overground and c2c rail services into Central London.
Simple Life’s offering at Fresh Wharf takes 4th place in Barking. It has a mix of 77 build-to-rent properties. The one and two-bedroom apartments are fully furnished and pet-friendly. This gives residents more renter-friendly options in this prime development that’s only 20 minutes from Canary Wharf.
In 5th we have the Fresh Wharf development itself. Situated on the Barking waterfront, it’s a new mixed-use community with a highly desirable location with direct links to the City and beyond.
In 6th place, Barking Central is a joint venture development between Redrow Homes and Galliard Homes. It comprises 272 one and two-bedroom apartments and three-bed homes. In addition, the development is conveniently located in the centre of Barking. Barking station is also close by. Residents have access to a variety of Underground, Overground and National Rail Services. Futhermore, in 2011, Barking Central received a RIBA Award for architectural excellence.
7th place goes to Rivermill Lofts, a development by Weston Homes, comprising 118 residential units with a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments. The development is adjacent to the River Roding and only a 12-minute walk away from Barking station, which has connections to the Overground and c2c train services.
Next up, L&Q are offering a range of private rental homes at Barking Riverside, which is set to be the new ‘Barcelona on the Thames’. The site itself runs along 2km of south-facing Thames river frontage, offering excellent views and river breezes. In addition, residents can benefit from the area becoming a vibrant neighbourhood extended well past 10,000 homes.
In 9th we have Weavers Quarter, another L&Q development built in partnership with London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. It offers 421 apartments and located within a new district in central Barking, where residents can reach Liverpool Street in 22 minutes.
Rounding off the list for Barking, L&Q also have a range of private rental homes at Barking Riverside. The development is one of the most exciting placemaking projects in Europe. Barking Riverside will transform a former industrial site along the River Thames into a new London district. As well as this, the site is alongside 2km of south facing Thames river frontage. In addition, residents can benefit from the area becoming a vibrant neighbourhood of over 10,000 homes.
Barking is a town and wider segment of the Barking and Dagenham borough of East London. It straddles the A13 and extends right down to the River Thames, which serves as its southern border.
Why live in Barking?
Barking has some stiff competition locally, in the form of neighbouring Greenwich and Bexley. However, the western half of this East London borough is a definite up-and-comer, thanks to its designation as a priority urban regeneration recipient.
You can already see how this influx of investment has changed Barking. The town centre, which was finished in 2007, is now a thriving hotspot for festivals, outdoor events and smart shops. Then there’s the ongoing Barking Riverside regeneration scheme. This is a major effort to revitalise the southern end of Barking, in the form of the largest housing development in east London, with planning permission for up to 10,800 new homes and masses of local facilities. Already, the area has over half a billion pounds of new transport links, communal infrastructure and modern new build homes to show for it. Once finished, this ‘Barcelona on the Thames’ will be a sight to behold.
This pattern of development plays to Barking’s existing strengths. It is a well-connected part of London, with solid transport links heading both east and west. It’s also a thriving residential area that continues to provide new job opportunities and that rare unicorn in London – affordable housing!
So, if you’re looking to get on the property ladder without breaking the bank, Barking is a solid bet. It has excellent commuter prospects and the area is on the up and up. What’s not to like?
Barking has District Line and the Hammersmith & City Line Underground connections, and heading into Central London takes less than 30 minutes. There’s also a brand-new overground station opening at Barking Riverside, with train services due to open in Autumn 2022.
As well as extensive bus services, Barking residents can get around in the car very easily for London. The A12 and A13 are excellent roads that connect Barking with the rest of the borough and lead right into the heart of the capital.
Barking property prices
Barking’s average house price for December 2024 was £356,000, according to Rightmove. This borough-wide average but it shows just how affordable it is to buy new builds in Barking. This is £152,000 less than the recorded London house price average of £508,000 for December 2023. That’s concrete proof that Barking is one of the best places in the capital to hunt for affordable homes.
Not only is the Barking average house price comparatively low, there are also numerous help-to-buy and affordable rent schemes operating here. In 2012, the borough council set up Reside, an affordable housing company that lets out new build homes in Barking and Dagenham for 65% to 80% of the market rate.
Hopefully, this guide has given you at least some idea of the potential offered by Barking. The whole area is undergoing a major transformation, so make sure you head back to check what’s happening in the Barking new build homes market in the coming months.
If you want to know more about what it’s like to live in Barking, check out our area guide below.
London’s largest regeneration scheme, Barking is something of a work-in-progress. For instance, project milestones include a brand-new town centre completed in 2007, as well as an ongoing riverside neighbourhood that’ll be packed with restaurants and shops when complete. But where are the best places Read more about Barking
HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
