BNP in new B&D homes row

The British National Party is at the centre of a housing row after voting against the first phase of a massive 600-home development.

Barking and Dagenham Council leader Cllr Charles Fairbrass criticised the far-right party during last week's assembly meeting for registering its opposition to the development at Lymington Fields, Lymington Road, Dagenham. The project, spearheaded by regeneration group English Partnerships, moved a step closer when a majority of Labour councillors endorsed plans for the first 319 houses and flats last week.

Cllr Fairbrass, leader of the Labour group on the council, maintained the BNP opposition showed a lack of logic after one of its members, Cllr Richard Barnbrook, previously pledged more affordable homes for Barking and Dagenham.

Cllr Fairbrass said: "They voted against it. They also voted against Barking Riverside, where 4,300 affordable homes will be built. They will be social rented homes. That's the problem, they keep voting against them. There's no logic to it. That's as simple as that."

BNP group leader Cllr Bob Bailey and fellow Cllr Lawrence Rustem joined in opposing the plans, which features 179 homes for key workers like nurses, teachers and firemen, and a new primary school. Cllr Bailey feared the properties may not be allocated to local people.

He said: "Half the people who get these homes are not key workers. When they start building for local people we will take them seriously."

English Partnerships hailed the regeneration project, saying it would deliver one to five bedroom properties for residents. Steve Oakes, regional director of English Partnerships, said: "We're all delighted that the proposals for Lymington Fields have been given the go-ahead. It's a first class scheme with a great balance of private and affordable homes, which will include London-Wide Initiative homes for key workers and new homes for local people, with lots of outside space for families."

London-Wide Initiative, a government-backed scheme launched in 2003 by English Partnerships, enables key workers to buy their own homes.

Barking and Dagenham Recorder