A look back: Community Conversation Time, February 2025

In February, the BRL team hosted the first Community Conversation Time (CCT) event of 2025.

These sessions, held regularly throughout the year, use interactive, in-person engagement to practically and collaboratively problem-solve. They offer a chance for BRL and residents to work together on topics such as estate services, planning matters, community priorities, and healthcare.
During the event, the BRL team heard first-hand experiences from residents, with many new faces dropping in to shape a number of projects.
If you missed this session, or simply want to find out more, we’ve summarised some of the key points discussed:

Placemaking Team

Who are the Placemaking Team?

The Placemaking Team is responsible for shaping the social infrastructure here at Barking Riverside, as well as BRL’s community partnership workstreams.

What did they do at CCT?
We understand that health continues to be a key point of discussion for residents. With this in mind, Sarah McCready engaged with attendees to gather feedback on healthcare services at Barking Riverside. The engagement session began with a presentation outlining BRL’s ongoing work to establish both permanent and interim health facilities. This was followed by two interactive activities:

1. Residents used coloured stickers to highlight which services from the Drop-in Dr Clinics they found most valuable.
2. Attendees mapped their GP registrations to indicate whether they were registered locally or with practices further away. This will help inform capacity planning for future health facilities.

What were the team’s key learnings?
Conversations with residents provided valuable insights that will help shape future healthcare provisions:

• Many Northgate residents are not registered with local GP practices, instead choosing to stay with their previous doctor or register with surgeries further afield in Barking and Dagenham. This trend will be considered when planning both interim and permanent healthcare facilities.
• While clinical care remains the main priority, attendees also expressed strong appreciation for holistic health services, such as nutrition guidance and therapies like massage. Based on this feedback, BRL is planning a larger wellness event that integrates these elements.
• Residents are eager for updates on the timeline for an interim GP service. BRL is committed to keeping the community informed and will share updates once a programme is agreed upon with the NHS.

The session provided an opportunity to reassure residents that an interim GP service is actively being considered. It also offered deeper insight into the factors influencing residents’ healthcare choices, particularly concerning decisions about GP registration.

Planning Team

Who are the Planning Team?
The Planning Team works with the local council, architects and other partners to help design and gain planning permission for various projects at Barking Riverside.

What did they do at CCT?
The team engaged with attendees to gather feedback on ongoing updates and plans for Stage 3 North, including commercial spaces, outdoor amenities, transport, and green spaces. The discussion focused on understanding:

• What types of businesses would residents like to see in the area?
• How can public spaces be designed to support recreation and social interaction?
• What improvements are needed for transport and accessibility?

Overall, there was strong agreement on the proposed plans, with many attendees expressing support for the suggested changes.

What were the team’s key learnings?
Deeper conversations with residents provided valuable insights into their priorities and expectations. This has helped the team to:

• Confirm the demand for diverse commercial spaces. Residents expressed interest in amenities such as inclusion of retail shops, barbers, GPs, and beauty salons, highlighting the need for flexible business spaces.
• Recognise the community’s interest in outdoor amenities. Many attendees welcomed the idea of outdoor gym equipment, football cages, and ping pong tables, reinforcing the importance of spaces that encourage social and physical activity for adults as well as families.
• Address transport and accessibility concerns. Residents emphasised the need for more visitor and disabled parking, designated spaces for Uber Eats drivers, and improved cycling links.
• Enhance green and community spaces. There was a shared desire for better-designed green areas that promote relaxation, nature connection, and community engagement.

With support for the proposals and valuable resident insights, these learnings will help refine the next stages of development, ensuring plans reflect the community’s needs and aspirations.

Communications and Community team

Who are the Communications and Community Team?
The Comms and Community Team focuses on engaging with residents and shaping events and initiatives that promote community engagement and well-being at Barking Riverside.

What did they do at CCT?
The team organised an activity to better understand residents’ preferences for events, including both BRL-led initiatives and those hosted by the Resident Events Panel (REP). Attendees participated in a sticker activity to vote on:

• The types of events residents would like to see.
• Their favourite past events.
• Ideal locations for events.
• Preferred frequency, months, and days for events.
• Additionally, we invited residents to express interest in joining the Resident Events Panel (REP) to have a more active role in shaping future events.

This work will help BRL plan events and engagement activities that residents would like to see and be part of.

What were the team’s key learnings?
Through deeper engagement with residents, the team uncovered a range of meaningful insights that will inform future event planning:

• There is a clear demand for a variety of activities that cater to different groups within the community, particularly family-friendly events, opportunities for youth engagement, and spaces where faith-based events can take place. This highlights the need to create a more inclusive and adaptable event schedule that reflects these varied interests.
• The request for comedy and live events was by far the most popular for REP-led initiatives, demonstrating residents’ desire for more entertaining and interactive experiences. The team is excited to announce that the first of these events will take place in April – more details to be announced.
• Residents identified The Wilds as the most ideal venue for events, showing a preference for a larger, open, and versatile space. The team will prioritise this location when planning future community gatherings.
• Summer games, supper clubs, and cinema events consistently emerged as the most popular event types among residents. BRL acknowledges these preferences and will consider them for this year’s event plans to better align with what residents enjoy and value in their community spaces.

These insights will guide the team in creating events that not only entertain but also strengthen the sense of community, ensuring that future initiatives reflect the diverse needs and desires of residents.

Estates Team

Who are the Estates Team?

The BRL Estates Team work with the Community Interest Company and the managing agent, Preim, to help the estate run smoothly. The Estates Team also work on the public areas of Barking Riverside, as well as some of the commercial spaces.

What did the team do at CCT?
The Estates team held an open forum for residents, providing an opportunity for them to approach us with any questions or concerns they may have. Following feedback from December’s CCT, the Estates Team were also joined by Preim and ENVAC during the session, which allowed for a more collaborative approach in addressing the community’s needs.

The session focused on:

• Addressing resident concerns and BRL’s plans to continue to collaborate and address resident issues across the estate.
• Providing education and information on ENVAC usage and Estates Team activities.

What were the team’s key learnings?
The open forum allowed residents to express their concerns directly, providing valuable insights into the most pressing issues. The key learnings include:

• Fly-tipping remains a significant concern for residents, with many voicing frustrations over its persistence in the area. BRL is actively working with the necessary parties to tackle this issue through increased monitoring and community education on proper waste disposal.
• Residents are interested in discussing the service charge budget. We plan to provide more clarity on the upcoming budget and any changes from the previous year to keep everyone informed.

CCT was invaluable in allowing residents to approach the Estates team and express their concerns directly. It was a great opportunity for the team to understand priorities better, gain exposure to the issues that matter most, and strengthen our connection with the community. BRL is committed to addressing these concerns through ongoing collaboration with the team and effective solutions.

Thank you to all who attended the last session. BRL appreciated the opportunity to meet with so many residents, including those who had not previously attended an event with us.
The next CCT is planned for June. Keep an eye on our socials to find out more.