Environment
Thurrock is 70 per cent Green Belt and this is one of its
most attractive features as a place to live. We are committed to
developing Thurrock in a way that makes the most of our open
spaces, conservation areas, marshes, woods and ecological
habitats.
We do this in a number of ways:
- Every one of our plans includes proposals for creating green
space or improving access to the countryside.
- We only consider developing Green Belt land where this is
absolutely necessary or desirable for job or housing creation.
- Where we do use Green Belt, this is typically wasteland or
scrub with no public access, not open fields. Building will often
be on disused and contaminated land, not country fields.
- We aim for the highest standards of sustainable design and
construction. This includes measures to conserve energy, materials,
water and other resources. We make sure that designs maximise the
use of natural systems within and around buildings, and reduce the
impact of noise pollution, flooding and climate change.
When we put forward major planning applications, we always
demonstrate how the project will be built, demolished or managed
for the long term good of the environment.
The way you travel to and from any building is key to any
development we consider: Everything from the required bus route to
how a member of the public parks their bike is considered when a
development is approved.
We co-chair the Local Strategic Partnership and heavily invest
in environmental and technology studies. We have also provided £1.7
million to create new cycle routes and upgrade existing cycle
networks, as well as lead a steering group that deals with
educating environmental matters and invest in sustainable
transport.
Some of our key sustainable projects are:
- RSPB Wildspace Project;
- Thurrock Thameside Nature Park;
- Fiddlers Reach development and;
- Redevelopment of Lakeside and West Thurrock.
Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation is committed to
helping the Borough realise its potential by planning growth,
managing investment, increasing employment and creating the right
environment for communities and businesses to flourish.