The Liberty at Dagenham Green: Heritage-Inspired New Apartments in East London

Discover The Liberty at Dagenham Green, a heritage-inspired collection of new apartments in East London, set within a vibrant 3,502-home regeneration.

At the heart of Dagenham Green’s first phase stands The Liberty: a building shaped by centuries of local history, landscape and contemporary design.

Positioned within Phase 1 of the wider 18.77-hectare development - which will ultimately deliver up to 3,502 new homes completed with shops, an abundance of commercial space and a school. The Liberty is an iconic building that will stand tall amidst the buzzing neighbourhood below.

Shaped by Water, Industry and People

Dagenham Green sits on land rich in heritage. Long before industry arrived, this was marshland shaped by the Thames. The nearby Dagenham Breach defined the area’s identity in the 18th and 19th centuries and it became known for its natural beauty, wildlife and tranquillity.

Later, Dagenham became synonymous with the automotive industry. The Ford plant defined generations of local employment and played a pivotal role in social history most notably the 1968 Ford sewing machinists’ strike, a landmark moment in the fight for equal pay.

The story of Dagenham Green is therefore one of three intertwined themes:

Landscape – water, marshes and pre-industrial ecology
The automotive industry – innovation, manufacturing and resilience
Social impact – social progress and community strength

The Liberty is designed within this narrative being contemporary, yet grounded in place.

Architecture inspired by history

The Liberty has been conceived as part of a coherent architectural language across Phase 1, while retaining its own identity. Its scale and massing respond carefully to the emerging streets and public spaces, helping to define welcoming routes through the neighbourhood.

Material choices draw inspiration from the site’s industrial past. Views toward the boardwalk pond and landscaped areas create a seamless blend between buildings and nature. Balconies and generous windows maximise light and outlook, reinforcing a sense of openness that reflects the character of the area.

The heritage trail: embedding memory into place

The Phase 1 Heritage Trail is an ambitious placemaking initiative developed in collaboration with Valence House Museum.

Running diagonally across the masterplan, the trail begins in Phase 1, making this first stage of development the “activation zone” for storytelling and community engagement.

Moments along the trail include:

A pond inspired by Dagenham Breach, complete with reed beds and marsh planting reflective of the area’s pre-industrial ecology.
Seating steps etched with quotations from historical figures and Ford strikers - giving physical presence to the voices that shaped Dagenham’s identity.
Interactive brass rubbings along boardwalks, allowing children to engage playfully with stories of prehistoric inhabitants, wildlife and notable visitors.
Bold, contemporary design that blends archival material with illustration.

Residents of The Liberty will live within a landscape layered with meaning.

Community at Its Core

From the outset, Dagenham Green has been shaped by collaboration. The heritage strategy draws on research and local expertise from Valence House, ensuring authenticity in storytelling. The wider masterplan supports the borough’s ambition to create a place where people are proud to live, work and stay.

Phase 1 alone delivers 935 new homes, alongside new public open space including Market Square and the southern part of the Urban Park. The Liberty contributes to this, helping to create the vibrancy necessary for a true neighbourhood rather than a standalone development.

Importantly, the public realm is designed with everyday life in mind. From children interacting with water play inspired by historic marsh channels, to residents gathering on seating steps illuminated with the words of past reformers and strikers, the development encourages a sense of belonging and connection across generations.

A Name with Meaning

“The Liberty” is a fitting name as it quietly echoes the themes embedded in the site’s history - social reform, equal pay activism, and the freedoms won by those who lived and worked here.

It also speaks to the opportunity offered by Dagenham Green today: the freedom to put down roots in a new community shaped by design quality, landscape and memory.