Barking Power Station had closed in 1981 - prior to being drained for the power station, it was tidal marshland. In the early 1990s, the UK Department of Environment sought brownfield sites in the area for development.

Bellway Homes constructed 900 houses on the site between 1995 and 2000. Barking Riverside Ltd provided infrastructure such as roads, utilities and community facilities.

It was announced in 2014 that the London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking Line would be extended to Barking Riverside to allow the development to be completed as planned. The new station was planned to open in 2021. The first new homes were occupied in 2012.

In 2016, the housing association L&Q bought Bellway’s 51% stake in the scheme. The same year, L&Q entered into a joint venture with the Greater London Authority to deliver the remaining new homes. There would be three neighbourhood centres when complete, with a population of approximately 26 000.

Barking Riverside station opened on 18 July 2022.