The 3,500+ home joint venture between The Hill Group and housing association Peabody is taking shape with practical and cultural additions
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Amenities are a key consideration for buyers when considering where to purchase a property.
The facilities and services available locally can play a huge factor in such decisions, with canny home-hunters both researching what’s currently on offer and what’s coming to the area.
Take Dagenham Green in east London, for example.
A joint venture by The Hill Group and housing association Peabody, when completed the scheme will see more than 3,500 homes built on the site of Ford’s former stamping plant.
Spread over some 45 acres, the development plans include extensive public open space with parks, a new secondary school and community facilities. It’s also a deeply practical option for buyers.
Dagenham Green is adjacent to Dagenham Dock station, offering a direct C2C rail link into Fenchurch Street in 21 minutes.
For those heading to east London destinations, the line connects to the likes of Barking and West Ham, offering a plethora of possible destinations via Tube, rail and DLR services. That includes a commute to Canary Wharf or Stratford of about 20 minutes.
a new opening at Dagenham Green
But what about on-site amenities? Well, the scheme recently announced it had secured Sainsbury’s as an anchor tenant.
The firm will open a 3,173sq ft convenience store on the ground floor of one of its buildings in the second quarter of 2027.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Hill and Peabody to bring a brand-new Sainsbury’s Local to this exciting development,” said Jonathan Arthur, Sainsbury’s head of convenience property development.
“As well as creating employment opportunities, our new store will bring a carefully curated selection of high-quality, great value products to the local community and we’re looking forward to it becoming a central part of the new neighbourhood in Dagenham Green once it opens.”
Andy Hill, founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “Securing Sainsbury’s as our first tenant is an important step in our vision for Dagenham Green.
“Having a trusted national retailer on board from so early in the development will be a huge asset for this growing community and demonstrates the appeal of the development for leading brands and businesses.”
James McMylor, managing director, London North at Peabody, added: “We know a great place to live isn’t just about well-built homes – it’s also about having the things that make daily life easier and more enjoyable.
“This Sainsbury’s will mean fresh food and essentials right on the doorstep, making life simpler for new residents and helping them settle in as Dagenham Green takes shape.”
One, two and three-bedrooms apartments are currently available on offer for private sale at Dagenham Green with prices starting at £275,000.
Shared ownership homes are also available at the scheme through Peabody with prices starting at £81,000 for a 30% share of a one-bed.
delivering culture on-site
Practicalities are important, of course, but there are also other things to consider and Dagenham Green is working hard to develop a cultural offering for its future residents.
The development has commissioned artist Ruth Ewan to create a series of public artworks on the site, forming the start of a heritage trail that will celebrate the area’s history.
Dagenham’s Ford plant is known not only for its automotive legacy but also for the 1968 and 1984 sewing machinists’ strikes – both landmark events in the campaign for women to be paid equally for their work.
Ruth’s first commission, with local women invited to participate in the creative process, will respond to those events with the aim of inspiring future generations.
“It’s an honour to be part of a project that recognises the importance of Dagenham’s social history – especially the incredible women who stood up for fair pay and equal working rights,” said Ruth.
“My aim is to create new works that convey this remarkable history and speak of its continued relevance to the present.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know local people and working with them to shape the project together.”
Ruth’s work includes installations, performances, writing and print. Her work addresses ideas of power and questions representations of time, rebellion and repression.
She has shown work at Tate Britain, the National Gallery and the New Museum in New York.
getting on the ladder
Dagenham Green is set to host a free event on Saturday, October 18, 2025, aimed at first-time buyers considering moving to the development.
Entitled the 95% Mortgage Talk, advice will be offered from Torc24 experts on buying with a 5% deposit, while solicitors from PCS Legal will also be on hand to handle conveyancing queries.
Those wishing to attend should sign up digitally.
key details: Dagenham Green
Prices at Dagenham Green start at £275,000 with the first residents at the development set to move in by the end of this year.
Those keen to attend the free 95% Mortgage Talk on October 18, 2025, between 11am and 4pm, should register their attendance online.
Find out more about the development here
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