Creating a New Heart for Purfleet
16 July 2009
Creating a New Heart for Purfleet - Vision for Purfleet One
Step Closer to Reality as Community Gets Final Say
Plans which will restore the historic community of Purfleet –
once a thriving market centre – to its former glory are moving one
step closer to reality.
The proposal (1) which has been put together by Thurrock Thames
Gateway Development Corporation, will provide a new heart for the
village, arranged around a public square with cafes and shops, a
new rail station development and public transport interchange. The
square is designed to be the heart of the community with a vibrant
atmosphere, where people can feel safe to enjoy its mixture of
shops, cafes, leisure and community facilities, day and night.
The total area being transformed by the plan is 59 hectares
(approximately 146 acres), the equivalent of roughly 81 football
pitches.
A detailed brochure and questionnaire about the revised
framework, asking residents for their views, will be sent out
shortly (w/e 17 July), together with an invitation to meet members
of the Development Corporation and the centre designers at a public
exhibition to be held at the Royal Hotel from Tuesday 21 – Saturday
25 July 2009.
This follows previous consultations in which the majority of
residents warmly welcomed the proposal and location of a new centre
for the community. Responses from the last consultation
have been incorporated into the new plan for Purfleet which now
provides much better connection between different parts of Purfleet
and the river.
If adopted, the plan will see some major enhancements to the
area including:
- New village centre focused around a newly created public
square, surrounded by cafes, shops and community facilities
- Dedicated commercial and employment areas, away from the
village centre, designed to attract more businesses, investment and
create up to 1,140 net additional jobs
- New primary school for 630 pupils, with increased playing
fields and a direct route from the public square
- New, larger health and community centre providing a wider range
of healthcare
- New supermarket and retail areas
- Relocated rail station entrance and new public transport
interchange
- New and improved routes between areas of Purfleet, enabling
people to move around the village more easily by foot, bicycle and
car
- Segregated routes for industrial lorries and residential
traffic
- Around 3,500 homes of varying size and design, 70% private and
30 % affordable, based around central green spaces and parks
for all to enjoy
- Newly accessible river front and public riverside space
- Leisure areas including woodland, playing fields and
parks.
A new industrial and commercial district is proposed, with its
own road links to free the centre of industrial traffic and create
a dedicated business community where companies can thrive.
To address the current shortfall of housing in Purfleet, the
Development Corporation is proposing a variety of new residential
property styles, from family townhouses to apartments. The
plan recommends that developments offer 70 per cent private and 30
per cent affordable housing, providing a range and choice to suit
as many people, lifestyles and budgets as possible.
There will also be a larger number of public areas, from the
civic square and residential green spaces to newly accessible river
front, existing protected woodland and newly created parks and
sports fields.
The consultation process closes on Friday 28 August 2009.
Commenting on the proposals, Will McKee, Chairman of Thurrock
Thames Gateway Development Corporation said; "Our aim is to raise
the overall quality of life for residents and to make Purfleet a
place of choice to live, work and relax."
