BILLION pound plans to transform Purfleet have been honoured with a major national award for putting the “community at the heart” of the plans.

Thurrock Council and Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited won the ‘best public participation’ award at the 14th annual Brownfield Briefing Awards.

The award recognises the approach which has seen the teams work in partnership with the community to shape the Purfleet proposals.

This included closely involving Purfleet Community Forum, regularly consulting the community and established a resident-led Purfleet Community Design Panel.

Mark Coxshall, councillor responsible for regeneration, said: “We are all very excited by the proposals for Purfleet and the chance to create new opportunities for our residents, including 2,850 much-needed new homes and a new town centre.

“The council and PCRL have shown a strong commitment to community engagement throughout the project and I am delighted that has been acknowledged with this award.

“Another thing we have really prided ourselves on with the Purfleet scheme is a real infrastructure-first approach, which will now set the template for future major developments in Thurrock.”

PCRL, in partnership with the council, is seeking to transform predominately industrial and manufacturing brownfield sites in Purfleet into a thriving community as part of a massive regeneration project that will include a new town centre, shops and restaurants, film and TV studios, 2,850 new homes, an integrated medical centre, new primary school and improved transport infrastructure.

A planning application for the project was submitted in December 2017, with work hopeful of starting late this year.

Construction will take place in phases with the first phase completed by 2021.

Ken Dytor, chairman of Urban Catalyst and founding director of PCRL, developer of the Purfleet scheme, said: “This is fantastic recognition of the value of collaboration and underlines the progressive approach Thurrock Council has taken to support our regeneration plans.

“The council’s long-term vision and its willingness to invest in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalise an important part of the South East is a shining example of what Britain needs to do to reinvigorate communities, creating new jobs and homes.”

All works, from preparing the site, through to the completion of the development, will take place over 16 years until 2034.

The project will also include new road connections, a children’s play area, improvements to the riverfront walkway, and new shops, cafés and restaurants.

When the whole scheme is completed, there will be spaces for new businesses, a new rail station, 2,850 new homes and more open spaces for residents to enjoy.

John Rowles, chairman of the Purfleet Community Forum and Purfleet Community Design Panel, added: “I am really pleased the forum has had the opportunity to be so heavily involved in the development of this exciting scheme and that the value of good quality community engagement has been recognised with this award.”

For more information about regeneration in Purfleet, go to thurrock.gov.uk/purfleet-growth