The UK’s largest brownfield site is set to be transformed into a 443-acre, mixed-use residential and leisure district in Barking, East London.

Plans submitted by Barking Riverside, a joint venture formed by English Partnerships and Bellway Homes, would see around 40 per cent of the area designated to open space and leisure.

Although details of the amenitites are yet to be confirmed, the development would – for the first time – provide the borough of Barking and Dagenham with access to two kilometres of river frontage.

Barking Riverside hopes to receive government support for the masterplan, designed by Dutch firm Maxwan, by the end of April, to enable initial phases of construction work to begin by the end of the year.

Roger Bond, technical director of Bellway, said: “Ideally, we’d like to receive the green light by the general election, but realistically we are looking at getting down to detailed designing by the beginning of summer.”