Queen Mary University of London is planning to open a training dental surgery in Maritime House on Linton Road, a property owned by Barking and Dagenham Council.
The university’s application for council funding states that the clinic will provide primary dental care “to those who need it the most and who cannot currently gain access.”
Council leaders are expected to approve a lease for the ninth and tenth floors of Maritime House at a cabinet meeting next week.
According to the plans, the clinic will train 130 dental students each year and provide care for 5,200 patients “free at the point of use.” It will offer year-round, community-based primary and urgent dental care, connecting students with underserved populations in Barking and Dagenham.
The council is also expected to allocate £4.1 million to fit out the new surgery. This funding will come from contributions made by property developers as part of planning obligations.
In its funding application, Queen Mary University highlighted that dental disease and access to care in Barking and Dagenham “are among the worst in the country.” The university noted a nationwide shortage of NHS dentistry and said the new facility would prioritise local residents who currently have little or no access to dental care.
The project aims to support vulnerable groups, including migrants, people experiencing homelessness, looked-after children, ex-offenders, and the digitally excluded—those with limited internet access.
In addition, council leaders are expected to approve borrowing £4.6 million to refurbish and repair the exterior of Maritime House. The council purchased the building for £19 million in 2022, fully aware that repairs would be required. Initial estimates placed the cost at £550,000, to be repaid over ten years through tenants’ service charges. However, further inspections revealed the repairs are more extensive than first anticipated.
The council had expected to collect £1.3 million in gross annual rent from tenants, but with the building over 50% vacant, current income is only £647,000 per year. After running and borrowing costs, the council faces an annual loss of £661,000.
The lease to Queen Mary University for the ninth and tenth floors is contingent on the completion of the external repairs. Cabinet members are scheduled to discuss and approve both the lease and the funding on Tuesday, November 11.