PURFLEET Centre Regeneration Limited ( PCRL ) is pleased to announce that Swan Housing Association is now the joint venture partner in PCRL for the delivery of a major £1bn housing led regeneration scheme at Purfleet in Thurrock.
The transformational Thames-side scheme in Thurrock will now see in excess of 2,800 new homes built alongside a world-leading creative hub, an improved train station and bridge crossing, a new primary and secondary school and other vital health and education infrastructure.
Swan, already established as a local housing provider with existing stock in the area, will take on an equal partnership in PCRL to deliver the exciting vision with Urban Catalyst as Development Managers for the Purfleet town centre revamp. Swan is picking up the baton from L&Q Housing Association, which had been involved in planning the project since 2016 and have now left the project.
Ken Dytor, Founder and Executive Chairman of Urban Catalyst, commented:
“With over two decades’ experience serving Essex and East London, Swan will bring invaluable local knowledge and expertise that will prove crucial in delivering what is an ambitious regeneration project by any standard. By providing new homes and helping overhaul the town centre and rail station, Swan will help propel Purfleet to new heights as we work to create a new international arts and media centre in the town. PCRL can now progress the social and transport infrastructure that will underpin our placemaking agenda.”
John Synnuck, Chief Executive of Swan commented:
“At Swan we are committed to delivering our social purpose – providing homes and services to those who need them – and our ambition is to grow to owning and managing 20,000 homes by 2026 to really make an impact on meeting housing need. As a result, the opportunity presented by this project which will deliver 2,800 homes as well as transforming a key part of the Thames Estuary region, is one we are keen to take on.
We are already delivering a range of town centre regeneration projects, including schemes in Laindon and Barking, and we are very much looking forward to working with our prospective joint venture partners and Thurrock Council to bring about this long awaited regeneration, which it is widely recognised local people want to see.”
Cllr Mark Coxshall, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration at Thurrock Council, said:
“This scheme is one of the most significant developments in Thurrock impacting on both existing and new residents. The new services and facilities currently absent in Purfleet will be achieved by developing the site in such a comprehensive way. This long awaited change will bring renewed energy to project and I look forward to working with Swan to now realise our ambitions get going at a pace in the coming months.”
Geoff Pearce, Swan’s Executive Director for Regeneration and Development commented:
“We are delighted that PCRL and Urban Catalyst recognise that Swan’s expertise in construction, project management and delivering mixed use regeneration will help PCRL bring about the transformation of Purfleet Town Centre. Urban Catalyst themselves also have an excellent development record and we are confident that, together, we can deliver new homes, public realm and a commercial and retail offer which will complement the wider ambitions for Purfleet which also include new schools and a major film and TV studios complex to be delivered by Quartermaster”.
Craig Luttman, Regional Managing Director for Development and Sales at L&Q, said:
“L&Q has had a long-term commitment to enabling the delivery of a transformational development for Purfleet. We made significant investment in planning a scheme that builds on the existing community and is a sustainable place for people to live and work. We are now pleased to be handing over the baton to Swan Housing Association to progress this scheme to its next exciting phase.”
PCRL’s plans received cross-party backing in Thurrock Council in summer 2015.
