OVER the past two years, we have run a series of stories chronicling the exciting plans to regenerate Purfleet.
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2016/12/05/purfleet-town-centre-consultation/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2016/09/27/exciting-plans-for-the-transformation-of-purfleet-revealed/
Back in 2016, the portfolio holder for regeneration, laid out a time scale.
Cllr Richard Speight said: “People often talk down our borough and our plans, but no more.
“The development agreement has now been signed by all the parties, the legal processes are over and over 2016 we will see all the planning applications coming through and some remedial work being carried out.
“But in 2017 the first phase will start to rise – and that includes the school, the health centre and the supermarket.
“We will also see access to the Thames being opened up in this phase of the development as well as hundreds of riverside homes, new public squares, new streets, new pathways, new right of ways, and new publicly accessible open spaces.””
But 2016 came and went and no planning applications. Now we are into the 2017 and no building appears to be taking place.
Indeed, even the Thurrock MP, Jackie Doyle-Price has asked whatever happened to the plans?
So we asked a simple question to Thurrock Council and got a very straightforward reply.
A Thurrock Council spokesperson said: “Despite the Development Agreement giving a further 12 months to submit the planning application, Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited – the council’s development partner – is getting on with this complex and very significant regeneration project.
“Initial planning documents were received by the council in December 2016. Further documents, including a full environmental impact assessment, are expected shortly.
“On-site works will commence once planning approval is granted. It is expected to go to planning committee later this year”.
