Dagenham Dock is an industrial district in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in London, England. It is located to the south of Dagenham and is on the River Thames. It was once the site of a large coaling port and continues to be the location of a small terminal licensed to handle coal off-loading. Today the site is used for a number of river-related operations including a 25-acre (100,000 m2) TDG (now XPO Logistics) depot with around 200 tanks for the storage of petrol, distillates, aviation fuel, biofuels, tallow, ethanol, fertilisers, and urea.[1]
| Dagenham Dock | |
|---|---|
 Dagenham Dock viewed from the River Thames | |
  Dagenham Dock Location within Greater London | |
| Population | 7,855 (Rylands Estate & Dagenham Dock MSOA, E02000021, 2011 Census) |
| • Charing Cross | 11.6 mi (18.7 km) W |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DAGENHAM |
| Postcode district | RM9 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| UK Parliament | |
| London Assembly | |
History
editThe dock was constructed at the site of Dagenham Breach, an area of flooded marsh caused by the breaching of the sea wall in 1707, and repeatedly flooded in the 18th-century. After a number of failed attempts, in 1865 Sir John Rennie built a jetty and a branch railway, but the company failed financially.[2] The site was acquired and Dagenham Dock was constructed over 30 acres (120,000 m2) from 1887 by Samuel Williams.[3] Historic records of Samuel Williams & Sons and John Hudson Ltd are held at Barking and Dagenham Archive Service, Valence House Museum although the full collection has not yet been fully catalogued.
Early in the 20th-century, HMS Thunderer, the last major warship built on the Thames, was fitted out at a new jetty, still known as the Thunderer Jetty.[2]
Wholesale market
editBarking Reach Power Station was constructed between 1992 and 1995 on Chequers Lane, and was the first major generating station to be built in London for many years. Decommissioning of the power station started in 2018.
In December 2018, the City of London Corporation acquired Barking Power Ltd along with the Barking Reach Power Station site. The historic City of London Corporation is obliged to provide wholesale markets through legislation enacted in the Victorian era. It proposes to relocate Billingsgate Fish Market (currently in Poplar), Smithfield Meat Market (in Central London) and New Spitalfields Market (currently in Leyton) to a new consolidated site.[4]
The corporation considered potential sites in Silvertown, Fairlop, Thurrock and Dagenham Dock and the possible expansion of the New Spitalfields site in Leyton. The Barking Reach Power Station site was selected in April 2019.[5] In March 2021, Barking and Dagenham Council gave outline planning permission for the City of London Corporation proposals.[6] On 28 November 2022, the corporation submitted a private bill to allow the relocation of Smithfield and Billingsgate markets.[7][8]
In February 2023, Havering Council attempted to use the 1247 market rights of Romford Market to block the opening of the consolidated wholesale market to the general public.[9][10]
The new consolidated market is expected to become operational in 2027/2028.[11]
Geography
editThe area is located in the London Riverside section of the Thames Gateway zone. It includes the London Sustainable Industries Park, an environmentally sustainable business cluster.
East of Dagenham Dock is Hornchurch Marshes, west past The Gores waterway is Barking Riverside, to the south is the River Thames and to the north is the Merrielands Retail Park and the Becontree and Rylands estates.
Transport
editLondon Buses routes 145 and EL2 serve Dagenham Dock. The two bus routes are separated by the railway, with a footbridge to connect them. The routes provide services to destinations such as Barking, Dagenham, and Ilford.
Expansion of the little-used Dagenham Dock railway station is expected to aid the development including services on the Docklands Light Railway[12] and East London Transit.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "25 acres of bulk liquid storage facilities on the Thames". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Dagenham: Economic history and local government". A History of the County of Essex. 1966. pp. 281–294. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
- ^ http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/4-heritage/local-history/information-sheets/pdf/info-sheet-11.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ "City Corporation acquires Barking Reach Power Station site". City of London Corporation. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "City Corporation agrees Barking Reach as preferred site to relocate historic wholesale markets". City of London Corporation. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ Burford, Rachael (23 March 2021). "Go-ahead for plans to move historic food markets to Dagenham". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "Plans to relocate Smithfield market approved by City Corporation". Meat Management. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "City Corporation has submitted a Private Bill to relocate Smithfield Market and Billingsgate Market". Markets Co-location Programme. City of London Corporation. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ Mansfield, Ian (16 February 2023). "The City of London's market plans run up against 775 year old law". ianVisits. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Coates, Chelsea (21 February 2023). "City of London market plans run into sheep trouble". BBC News. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Our plans for the City's three historic food markets". Markets Co-location Programme. City of London Corporation. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ Transport for London Archived 17 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine – DLR takes first steps toward Dagenham. 29 January 2007.
- ^ Transport for London – East London Transit