Three businesses have been welcomed to what is said to be the UK's first multi-storey industrial scheme in Barking.

Be First, the regeneration arm of Barking and Dagenham Council, recently welcomed CC Dist UK Limited, Samosa Haus, and Card Galaxy to Industria.

This employment space aims to cater to local businesses and help small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) growth in the borough.

CC Dist UK Limited, an electric mobility products business, has secured a ground floor 3,024 sq. ft unit.

Samosa Haus, a south Asian commercial baking business, and Card Galaxy, a trading card distribution business, have leased spaces on the top floor of the scheme.

In total, these three leases amount to more than 5,000 sq.ft of Industria's 100,000 sq.ft of total floorspace.

Mehmet Sutcu, founder of CC Dist UK Limited, said: "One of the biggest advantages of moving into Industria is the height of our unit – it’s eight metres tall, providing us with the space to convert some of the unit into a showroom, something we weren’t able to do in our former workspace.

"Knowing there’s 24-hour security and that we have 24-hour access is also greatly reassuring."

Ambereen Mujtaba, founder of Samosa Haus, praised the "forward-looking" development and the supportive community of businesses at Industria.

Ambereen added: "It stood out as the ideal place for us to grow our business in a collaborative environment with great amenities and connections."

Industria's green efforts earn the development applause too.

Aqib Malik, co-founder of Card Galaxy, said: "The sustainability elements of the scheme were also important for us – we want to do our bit to help the environment and this is yet another box that Industria ticked for us."

Councillor Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, welcomed the businesses to Industria.

He said: "Once again Barking and Dagenham Council has led the way via Be First and McLaren in developing logistics and industrial stacked spaces in the UK, with Industria being the first of its kind in the UK."

Alex Peck, senior development manager at Be First, added that the new deals represent what Industria aims to promote – local businesses thriving at the heart of the local economy.

The development, situated in the River Road Employment Area, stands next to the A13 and close to new Barking Riverside station and pier, housing numerous businesses that bolster the London economy.