EXCITING plans for Purfleet – including a possible 500,000 sq ft film and television studios – were revealed by Thurrock Council Leader, Cllr John Kent, on Wednesday (26 February) evening.
He was speaking during the council’s budget debate and said: “I want to take this opportunity to highlight some proposals that could have a major impact, a positive impact, on our borough and our lives.”
Cllr Kent explained that next week (Tuesday, 4 March) members of the Planning, Transportation and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee were being asked to examine the proposals before they went to the council’s cabinet a fortnight later.
He said: “I would ask the members of that committee to look very carefully at the plans and to report their thoughts to cabinet.
“We’ve spoken many times about the future of the village and how it will lead the west of the borough into the future.
“The proposal the committee’s being asked to scrutinise – if we agree to it – would do far more than that.
“Yes it would deliver the new homes and jobs we’re looking for, but also, the proposal from a consortium headed by Sir Tim Lawrence, would build on the amazing creative industries rapidly becoming established just down the road at High House, to provide at half a million square feet of high-tech film and television studios.”
He explained the same committee was also being asked to examine the latest proposals for Grays south and the railway station, “another exciting project – not on the same scale perhaps, but a key part of our hopes to turn Grays into a thriving, bustling, and exciting town centre that will attract new business, new shoppers and even new and first-time visitors to the area”.
Cllr Kent said: “It’s important we get these decisions right and it’s important that everybody looks closely and speaks out about them. These are not small decisions, they are decisions which could affect everyone in Thurrock for decades to come.
“Film and television studios; the Royal Opera House’s scenery headquarters; the Royal Opera House’s costume store, factory and museum coming soon; the national centre for back stage theatre training; all in Purfleet!”
He continued: “The fact we have secured £4 million funding for local businesses in interest-free loans through the TIGER scheme; the fact we lead across half of Essex on helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint and their costs; the fact we’ve supported Grays-based businesses to create a town team; the support we are giving to help create jobs at Thames Oilport and Enterprise Park; plus all the work we’re doing to encourage businesses – small, medium and large – to flourish … clearly demonstrates that we are a business-friendly authority, and that Thurrock is open for business.”
