Two new developments are set to improve Barking Town Centre in the near future, both demonstrating partnership working at its best.

Barking was originally put on the map by its Abbey, seat of William the Conqueror's first parliament back in the 11th century.  Custodianship of the Abbey Green is a crucial part of the Council's responsiblities for the local environment and for maintaining the sense of 'place'.  The Green is a crucial connection between the new Town Square developments and the emerging cultural quarter around the Town Quay. 

The Council has run an international design competition to appoint a company to draw up plans to improve the Abbey Green. 

On the other side of town, attention is turning to the station.  Working with Transport for London and the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, with funding from Network Rail, the area in front of the station will get a revamp to improve pedestrian and traffic circulation and make this crucial entry point to the borough more welcoming.  These proposals follow the November 2009 announcement that Barking Station will benefit from a share of a £50 million fund to improve railway stations. Barking was named as one of the ten stations in the country most in need a facelift by an independent report commissioned by the Government.