Council to take on Purfleet plan (From Thurrock Gazette)

Council to take on Purfleet plan

8:10am Saturday 23rd June 2012 in News

THURROCK Council has confirmed a multi-million pound scheme to build a town centre in Purfleet is on its agenda.

The now defunct Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation devised a £750million plan to regenerate the area in 2009, but ended the search for a development partner when it closed down.

At Thurrock Council’s latest cabinet meeting, Cllr Andy Smith, portfolio holder for regeneration, said the project would be “one of the most difficult” the council will take on, but said the authority is committed to it and has now taken charge of it.

He said: “There is nothing in the Purfleet area, no shops, no park, nothing.

“These plans include up to 3,000 new homes, a new school, health centre and railway station. It’s a very big and complex project, but obviously worth attempting.”

Fellow cabinet member and ward councillor for West Thurrock, Cllr Oliver Gerrish, said: “This is of real importance to the area, it’s in real need of regeneration. Residents are so keen to have that town centre.

“At the moment, if they want to go shopping they have to leave Purfleet. This should deliver that heart of Purfleet that people have been wanting for a long time.”

Thurrock Council absorbed the development corporation in April, and took on ownership of its assets and liabilities.

The council now owns 71 acres of brownfield land in Purfleet, which equates to 50 per cent of the land needed for the scheme.

It also has land assets outside the scheme which were earmarked for disposal by the corporation to provide funding for the project.