It is being built on land formerly occupied by Barking Power Station, adjacent to the River Thames, and is 10.5 miles (16.9 km) east of Charing Cross.

In 2016, housing association L&Q bought out Bellway's stake in Barking Riverside Ltd, entering into a joint venture with the GLA to deliver the remaining new homes.

In the early 1990s, the Department of Environment sought brownfield sites in the Thames Gateway area for development.

The Barking project started as a public-private venture between the Greater London Authority, English Partnerships and developer Bellway Homes.

[5] The site has low land value, but the cost of converting it from industrial use caused Bellway to be concerned about profitability.

The project was jointly managed by the Homes and Communities Agency until its London operations were folded into the GLA in April 2012.

[14] In phases 2 and 3 of the development, there is a provision for a new Health and Leisure Hub including a large family-friendly swimming pool and 150-station gym.

As planning restrictions prevent more than 1,200 new homes being built before adequate transport links are in place,[2] the area was to be served by an extension of the Docklands Light Railway, but this was cancelled in 2008.

Now called Barking Riverside Pier, it is situated on the north bank of the Thames in what will eventually become the district centre, a short distance from the new London Overground station.

During the morning and evening peaks, and at weekends, Thames Clippers provides passenger river bus services on the RB1 route to Woolwich Arsenal, Canary Wharf and piers in central London.