Mayor of London Boris Johnson is pressing ahead with plans to transform a derelict factory plant, which once formed the backdrop to popular film "Made in Dagenham", into 30,000 new homes.

Johnson today announced that developer Countryside Properties with Quadrant Housing Trust will take forward the regeneration of Beam Park. This includes a new train station which will run to central London in 20 minutes.

He said: "Four years ago this impressive site hid one of the biggest secrets ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games when it was used for opening ceremony rehearsals and is now set to be transformed into a thriving new neighbourhood."

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Councillor Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council added: "It is becoming evident that London is moving east and Barking and Dagenham, as London’s growth opportunity, has a crucial role to play in meeting London’s increasing housing and infrastructure needs."

Beam Park is one of four housing zones across London which City Hall hopes will deliver a total of 12,000 new homes.

In October, Boris unveiled plans to expand the capital eastwards by building more than 200,000 homes, after new research showed the area's building potential is actually four times greater than previously thought.