O’Mahony Pike Architects were appointed to design proposals for the development of the Abbey Retail Park, to help regenerate an economically deprived area which has suffered since the withdrawal of major industry.

The scheme proposes the revitalisation of the retail park as a new residential neighbourhood. The site is located along the banks of the Roding River channel and adjacent to the Abbey Green Park, in Barking, East London, the location of the original Barking Abbey, now a scheduled ancient monument. A reanimation of the waterside and park side edges are the key aspirations of the development, as well as a reconnection of the site to the town centre.

An intensification of use is anticipated with the introduction of 1000 new residential properties, provided in a mixture of apartments duplex’s, town houses, individual dwelling and courtyard houses to provide a wide mix of residential typologies and tenures. The site will also become the new location for a new 3 form entry primary school and interpretation centre, which will be associated the historic importance of the Abbey and its grounds.