A look back: Community Conversation Time, October 2025

Community Conversation Time – October 2025

In October, the BRL team hosted another Community Conversation Time (CCT), with a strong focus on the Estate Service Charge.

These regular sessions give residents and the BRL team a chance to connect directly, discuss key community issues, and collaborate on shaping the neighbourhood. Through interactive boards and hands-on activities, this CCT explored not only the estate, but also communication, public spaces, and future planning priorities.

If you missed this session, or simply want to find out more, we’ve summarised some of the key points discussed:

Estates Team

Who are the Estates Team?
The Estates Team manage the maintenance and upkeep of the estate, including green spaces, some roads, the public realm and play spaces.  They lead the liaison with residents on these operational issues. PREIM and the Community Interest Company (CIC) work in conjunction with the BRL Estates Team.

What did they do at CCT?
The Estates Team hosted an interactive station to breakdown this year’s Estate Service Charge, demonstrating that BRL has worked to keep costs consistent year on year. They also offered a deeper dive into the CIC and its purpose, and ran a “Tic, Tac, Talk” activity where residents could engage directly with CIC Resident Directors.

What were the team’s key learnings?
• The session highlighted ongoing frustration around service charges – not necessarily the Estate Service Charge, but in general the total cost residents pay across all charges.
• BRL were able to hear that residents do not feel they have received clear or consistent information from Landlords and Managing Agents regarding recent service charge increases.
• The discussion reinforced the need for some coordination and alignment on this issue, which BRL has agreed to lead. BRL has recently written to all residents across the estate to set out this commitment.

Moving forward, BRL, Preim and the CIC will continue to work with Landlords and Managing Agents across the estate to improve consistency and clarity around service charge communication, which we believe will bring greater transparency.

Community Partnership Team

Who are the Community Partnership Team?
The Community Partnership team supports resident engagement and community-led activity at Barking Riverside. They are part of the wider Placemaking and Communications Team.

What did they do at CCT?
An interactive station invited residents to share ideas on how future CCT sessions could be made more inclusive, relevant, and engaging. Five themed boards encouraged voting with sticky dots and written feedback via Post-it notes.

What were the team’s key learnings?

• Weekend sessions, with themed discussions in smaller, guided groups, were the preference for future CCTs.
  • Residents would like the opportunity to submit questions or discussion topics online before each event.
  • Accessibility and inclusion are key priorities, with suggestions including childcare support, interpreters, and creative spaces for engagement.
  • There is a strong interest in visible follow-up, including newsletters, progress updates, and calendar invites for upcoming sessions.

As a result, the Community Partnership Team will look to trial some of these recommendations at the next CCT, and will ensure all outcomes are clearly communicated through email updates and summary links on the BRL website, showing progress on the issues raised. This blog post is part of this commitment.

Communications Team

Who are the Communications Team?
The Communications Team manage how information about Barking Riverside is shared — through newsletters, social media, events, and direct updates to residents. They are part of the wider Placemaking and Communications Team.

What did they do at CCT?
Residents were invited to share how they currently receive information about Barking Riverside and how they would prefer to hear from BRL going forwards. The session explored the role of social media, newsletters, and other communication channels.

What were the team’s key learnings?
• Many residents requested more frequent and structured email newsletters to stay informed about community updates.
• Instagram is the most used platform, with residents highlighting the usefulness of more “real-time” stories and behind-the-scenes updates.
• Residents showed interest in short-form video content on TikTok that showcases amenities, events, and local stories.
• Quick, direct communication is highly valued, with preferences for WhatsApp alerts and concise email notifications.

Feedback from the session will guide how BRL communicates moving forward — with a stronger focus on regular newsletters, resident storytelling, and concise, short-form content.
The team will also explore expanding BRL’s social media presence, to share more visual and community-focused updates, while making greater use of email newsletters to deliver timely, relevant information directly to residents.

Planning Team

Who are the Planning Team?
The Planning Team works with the Council, Be First, architects, and other partners to help design and gain planning permission for upcoming projects at Barking Riverside.

What did they do at CCT?
The team invited residents to share ideas for the upcoming “Neighbourhood Living Room”. This is an area that is yet to be built, that will eventually be located opposite Huggett Road and close to The Circus. Drawing inspiration from European squares, residents annotated sketches and visuals to suggest what features would make the space feel welcoming and meaningful.

What were the team’s key learnings?
• There was a clear desire for more social and leisure spaces, such as cafés, pubs, and outdoor seating areas.
• Greenery and water features were highly valued, with residents wanting to see more planting and shaded areas.
• People expressed interest in both calm, adult-friendly areas, as well as playful family zones – showing the need for a design that prioritises flexibility.
• Multi-use spaces that can host markets, music, or community fitness activities were strongly supported.

Hearing directly from residents provided valuable insight into how people experience and imagine shared spaces, helping to shape a more inclusive, adaptable future design that truly reflects community aspirations.

Resident feedback will directly inform the final design principles for the Neighbourhood Living Room at Stage 3 North, ensuring the space reflects a balance of social, leisure, and family-friendly uses. The team will continue to share updates on how ideas raised at this session shape the design process, maintaining a dialogue on this space.

Looking Ahead

Feedback gathered at Community Conversation Time shapes and impacts BRL’s priorities.

Here are some key actions from the session that BRL has committed to:

• BRL will continue to work with a range of local partners – including Landlords and Managing Agents – to collaborate on service charges across Barking Riverside.
• Future CCT sessions will follow a new format, designed to make conversations more focused and accessible, with opportunities for residents to submit questions in advance and receive a follow-up afterwards.
• Changes to BRL’s social media – ensuring this can better profile resident stories, and is adapted to be of most use to residents.
• More work to refine the final design principles for “Neighbourhood Living Rooms”, ensuring this reflects feedback from CCT.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed their views. Keep an eye on BRL’s social channels and newsletters for details about the next Community Conversation Time.