Thurrock #1

THURROCK P E O P L E P L AC E P R O S P E R I T Y ISSUE ONE SPRIN G 2018

AL L ABOAR D GAT EWAY TO TH E TH A M ES , T R AD IN G S PAC E, F I RS T F OR I N D U S TRY, INSPIR ATI O N S F O R GROW TH , L E AR NIN G C URV E, TRA N S P O RT H UB

T U R B O - C H A RG I N G T H E E VO LU T I O N O F LO G I S T I C S

The UK’s first true superhub is about to change everything, revolutionising the factory-to-shelf process and reducing supply chain cost. Thames Enterprise Park streamlines your logistics operations to an unprecedented degree, seamlessly integrating processing, storage, packaging and transportation.

Thames Enterprise Park Superhub is the game changer that will allow businesses to seize a competitive advantage in supply chain delivery. The Superhub will encompass a synergy of uses, with related operations and suppliers clustering around four separate hubs. A Food Hub, Energy Hub, Amenity Hub and Sustainable Industries Hub.

U N R I VA L L E D LO C AT I O N

EXCEPTIONAL CONNECTIVITY

SUPERSIZED SCALE

T: 020 7402 0402 | E: info@isecgroup.uk | P: 10 Upper Berkeley Street London W1H 7PE

A joint venture development by

W W W. T H A M E S E N T E R P R I S E P A R K . C O M

We’re delivering more in Thurrock... more regeneration Purfleet on Thames is a £1billion regeneration which will create a world class creative hub on the River Thames, surrounded by a new town centre with shops, restaurants and leisure uses, up to 2850 new homes and over one million square feet of TV and Film production studios. Improved transport infrastructure and a new primary school will, in later phases, be complimented by a new university campus.

www.ourpurfleet.com

Delivered by PCRL Limited in partnership with Thurrock Council

more affordable homes We are supporting Thurrock Council’s innovative private housing scheme Glorianna and are proud to be managing around 100 homes at their landmark development at St.Chad’s Tilbury, which is bringing new affordable homes, where local people can bring up their families.

We provide these property management services to a number of Boroughs and to a range of investors and private landlords.

To find out more about our work in Thurrock, call Frank Klepping, Development Director on 0300 303 2500 or email fklepping@swan.org.uk

THURROCK MAGAZINE

CONTENTS

25 RETAIL

40 C ONNECTIVIT Y

Updates on regeneration projects throughout Thurrock.

Shopping centre intu Lakeside has long been a key asset for the area – and there are big plans afoot for its future.

Planned infrastructure schemes are set to bring further options for Thurrock’s transport connections to London and beyond.

Industrial grit contrasts vividly with vast open spaces and an attractive riverside location: this is an area ripe for investment.

29 PROJECT S

43 EDUC ATION

With six major growth hubs, where are the key sites and what progress is being made?

Students are attracted to excellent educational facilities in Thurrock, such as South Essex College’s new £45 million campus.

20 POR T S

36 ENTERPRISE

Some of the UK’s most significant trade operations take place in Thurrock, thanks to the presence of its major ports.

Job opportunities are being created in a cross-spectrum of sectors through significant development projects.

12 INTRODUCIN G THURROC K

Editor-in-chief: James Renoux-Wood News and digital editor: Natalie Vincent Production manager: Christopher Hazeldine Design: Kate Monument Production assistants: Tilly Shenstone, Mia Wicks Business development manager: Harry Seal Project manager: Sue Mapara Subscriptions manager: Simon Maxwell Business development director: Paul Gussar Managing director: Toby Fox Published by 3Fox International in partnership with Thurrock Council

48 FACT S AND FIGURES Thurrock’s vital statistics demonstrate the growth potential of the area.

Cover image: Aerial by Commission Air / Alamy Stock Photo Images: Swan, Harris Academy Riverside. pxl.store/shutterstock, Andy Hay (rspb-images.com), Alan Williams Photography, Ian Joseph (CC BY 2.0), DP World London Gateway, Warner Bros, Thurrock Council, ©English Heritage, Robert Johns, intu Lakeside, South Essex College/Paul Tait, Highways Agency, Phillip Clifford, James Petts, Matt Buck, Urban Initiatives Studio, Sky High Camera, Ian Billinghurst, Rob Moore Printed by The Manson Group Published by 3Fox International, Sunley House, Bedford Park, Croydon, CR0 2AP, T 020 7978 6840 W 3foxinternational.com Subscriptions & feedback thurrocktide.com © 2018 3Fox International Limited. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of 3Fox International Ltd is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for omissions or errors. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of 3Fox International Ltd

THURROCK MAGAZINE

6

7 NEWS

Amazon is investing in the UK

Amazon is proud to be a part of the Thurrock Community Amazon has invested more than ÂŁ6.4 billion in its UK Operations since 2010 and has a dedicated and enthusiastic workforce who play a crucial role in delivering a first rate level of service for our customers.

People are employed in a range of positions in Amazon’s fulfilment centres, from operations managers to engineers, HR and IT roles to employees who handle customer orders.

We were delighted to open our fulfilment centre in Tilbury in October 2017 to enable us to continue to expand our product selection, support more third party sellers including small businesses with our fulfilment expertise and meet growing customer demand in the UK. We thank Thurrock Council for its support in enabling us to expand our operations into the area.

amazon.co.uk/about

LATEST UPDATES

NEWS FULL SAIL FOR TILBURY MASTERPLAN

PURFLEET PLANS MOVE FORWARD

T

hurrock Council is working with Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL) on a £1 billion regeneration scheme in Purfleet. Swan Housing Association joined forces with developer Urban Catalyst as part of PCRL in October 2017, to build 2,850 homes, a train station and around 93,000sq m of dedicated film and TV studios. Plans were submitted to the council in December 2017 Following consultation with Purfleet residents, early priorities include a bridge over the railway line to replace the level crossing, new road connections, additional school places, an integrated medical centre, a children’s play area, riverfront walkway improvements, shops, cafes and restaurants.

Sir Tim Laurence, chairman of PCRL, said: “This regeneration represents a

unique opportunity for us to help the local community transform Purfleet.

“We will bring new opportunities, building on the town’s history and waterfront location.

“PCRL is confident that these plans, if approved, will not only transform Purfleet, but will ensure Thurrock’s role as a key part of the Thames Estuary region.”

Contractor Keltbray, working on behalf of Thurrock Council and PCRL, set up a site office in Purfleet in late 2017 to start a 10-week programme of ground investigations.

Quartermaster Holdings will work in partnership with PCRL to deliver the film and TV studios, as well as post production facilities at the site. The aim is to create one of the UK’s largest media facilities, to help address the problem of a lack of studio capacity in the country.

THURROCK MAGAZINE

Thurrock Council has approved plans to transform the port-side town of Tilbury with homes, jobs and community facilities.

The masterplan was given the green light at a council cabinet meeting in October 2017, and includes revamping the civic square with more public space, homes, improved jobs and skills support, and an integrated medical centre.

Longer-term plans for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) – including a major expansion of the Port of Tilbury and new power generation facilities – are being set out, as well as improving connections between the town and the river.

Port of Tilbury, the largest facility within the Port of London and one of the area’s largest employers, handles bulk goods such as paper, grain and container cargo.

With a distribution centre at the port spanning more than 344ha, the plans for development could create an estimated 4,000 jobs.

An outline Development Consent Order for the port’s expansion was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate at the end of 2017. If approved, work is expected to start in late 2018 with the first phase completed by 2021.

The scheme has been developed through a consultation process with local residents and aims to prioritise the needs of the community.

7

£1 billion regeneration project

D OW N

BY TH E RI V E RS I D E

LATEST UPDATES

CROSS-BORDER COLLABORATION

8

LARGE ATTENDANCE AT BUSINESS EXPO Over 150 businesses attended the eighth annual Thurrock Business Conference in Grays on 25 January 2018.

Held at the Civic Hall throughout the morning, delegates were offered free business support, and information on grant funding opportunities of up to £10,000 at the support marketplace.

The conference was hosted by Thurrock Council and Thurrock Business Board, which is made up of representatives from different organisations across a range of significant sectors in Thurrock, including ports, transport and logistics, construction, manufacturing, financial and the public sector.

The business expo’s main aim is to reflect the vibrancy and scale of the business community in the borough, as well as the strong collaboration between businesses.

The Thurrock Business Board is made up of representatives from businesses and organisations across a range of sectors, including ports, transport and logistics, retail, construction, business services, IT and communication, manufacturing and creative businesses.

Seven south Essex councils have agreed to deliver a joint vision on infrastructure, planning and growth in the area.

Thurrock, Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Essex County, Rochford and Southendon-Sea councils signed up to the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) in January 2018, to “develop a joint ‘place’ vision” for the region up to 2050, which will include cross-border plans for improved transport connections, open up potential housing land and the development of business and leisure sectors.

The councils first discussed working together on the development of south Essex in June 2017, and signed a memorandum of understanding in early 2018.

The collaboration, which has the full backing of south Essex businesses through Opportunity South Essex, will focus on the region and involve key partners such as the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission.

Councils will work together in the belief that the “region’s potential is greater than the sum of its parts”.

S P R I N G 2 018

FERRY CONTRACT EXTENDED

B E TTE R BY BOAT

The Tilbury to Gravesend passenger ferry service is being further enhanced, following the award of a five-year contract to boat operator Jetstream Tours, which has been running the ferry on a short-term basis since May 2017.

Thurrock Council and Kent County Council announced the contract in October 2017, following a competitive tendering process for the ferry service, which is used by around 200 passengers every day.

The more certain long-term arrangements will support both residents and business, particularly the Port of Tilbury, which relies on open cross water connections to open up labour markets.

The local authority praised Jetstream Tours for how it handled the operation of the ferry in the interim period – and in particular for providing a reliable service, supporting residents crossing the river.

LATEST UPDATES

THIS REGENERATION REPRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPRTUNITY FOR US TO HELP THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

9

SCHOOL GETS GO-AHEAD COUNCIL COMMERCIAL STRATEGY FUNDS IMPROVEMENTS Thurrock Council has announced it generated £2.3 million of surplus income between 2017 and 2018 through its investments, which will be put towards improving the roads and infrastructure throughout the borough.

At a cabinet meeting on 10 January 2018, it was agreed that £1 million would be spent on highways improvements, including central reservation cleanliness and repairs to signs.

The council will also spend £750,000 on new equipment to help its frontline teams with graffiti cleaning, drain and gulley

maintenance and improving the cleanliness of its parks.

The extra money being spent cleaning up the borough is part of the council’s success in making Thurrock a more attractive place to invest, develop, work and live.

Thurrock Council has also earmarked £380,000 to ensure the plans for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing are challenged, to minimise negative effects and maximise the benefits should it go ahead.

The council has been able to set a balanced budget for the next four years with no service reductions.

THURROCK MAGAZINE

Plans for a secondary school with a sixth form in Purfleet were approved by Thurrock Council in November 2017, and will provide at least 1,150 school places, with 250 allocated for sixth form pupils.

The 836sq m Harris Academy will be built at the old Smurfit Kappa Lokfast site along London Road and will comprise a four-storey high teaching block and a twostorey sports hall.

The development of the school, which is expected to create 120 jobs, has been facilitated by Thurrock Council working with the Education and Skills Funding Agency, which the local authority says is an early piece of the critical infrastructure needed for the Purfleet Centre scheme.

Harris Academy has existing educational facilities in Chafford Hundreds. It is a not-for-profit charity, with over 25 years experience of education in and around London.

LATEST UPDATES

CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTIONS

ENERGY SAVING GRANTS SITE WORKS ON MEDICAL CENTRE

10

Thurrock Council is progressing a site survey for the first integrated medical centre began on 5 February 2018 in Tilbury’s Civic Square.

The integrated medical centres are intended to provide health services in modern buildings closer to where people live.

The work comprises topographical surveys and assessments ranging from flood risk, utilities, ecology and transport studies over the next few months, and will help decide the final design of the centre.

A

west Thurrock-based vehicle repair company has been awarded £20,000 for its two businesses to increase carbon efficiency. Spectrum Vehicle Repairers Group received the grant as part of the Low Carbon Across the South East (LoCASE) project, operated by Thurrock Council.

The scheme was set up to help companies save money on energy, as well as support the low carbon goods and services sectors; it has granted almost £2.5 million to businesses since February 2016.

The project is a Thurrock Council partnership, with Southend-on-Sea Council, Kent County Council, East Sussex County Council, Essex County Council and the University of Brighton.

Spectrum’s finance director Mark McAspurn, said: “The process with LoCASE was very smooth, the application was also made easier with their ability to quickly understand our industry, business and project.

“The investment we have made with LoCASE’s help has greatly improved our business both operationally, financially and environmentally.”

S P R I N G 2 018

This survey follows a consultation launched at the end of December 2017, which put forward considerations by Mid and South Essex Clinical Commissioning Group to build four integrated medical centres across the borough of Thurrock to eventually replace health services provided

by Orsett Hospital.

PROUDLY SUPPORTING THURROCK

For over 25 years Thurrock has been at the heart of C.RO Ports’ UK ro-ro business.

In 2017 C.RO Ports’ London terminal at Purfleet handled over 420,000 containers and trailer freight units and 235,000 new passenger cars and commercial vehicles, with 1,200 vessel calls from Rotterdam and Zeebrugge.

With two ro-ro berths, four rail sidings, and easy access to the A13 and M25, the terminal is ideally situated to handle unaccompanied freight destined for the south east and beyond or continental Europe.

Part of the CLdN Group, an integrated ro-ro shipping and ports operator, C.RO Ports London offers direct connections between Purfleet and Rotterdam and Zeebrugge with scheduled sailings each way every day.

www.croports.com www.cldn.com info.london@croports.com

INTRODUCING THURROCK

12

With the presence of its ports and industrial land, Thurrock is a place boosted by its trade operations. But the area also contains a surprising amount of green space and abundant historical secrets. Now, with multimillionpound regeneration projects set to open up its access to the River Thames and subsequent markets, Kirsty MacAulay reports on an area with development potential to rival anywhere in the UK

THE

TIDES CHANGE 0F

S P R I N G 2 018

INTRODUCING THURROCK

CONNECTED SPACE Thurrock’s estuary location made it an important trading stronghold for hundreds of years, a status it retains today. It welcomes the world’s biggest ships and its proximity to London, excellent transport links and space and costs that cannot be matched across most of London and the south-east, make it a dream business location, attracting the likes of Amazon and UPS. With regeneration plans that will be transformative, it is easy to see why Thurrock

THURROCK MAGAZINE

AMBITIONS F OR GROW TH “The opportunities are vast,” Carpenter says, adding, “Thurrock is the place for developers and investors to help realise the next stage of their ambitions.”

Thurrock’s economic growth will be wholesale across the borough, creating about 24,500 jobs over the next 20 years. Major developments are focused on six growth hubs. The ports are expanding, as is intu Lakeside shopping centre – there are plans for town centres at Lakeside and Purfleet and revitalised centres for Grays and Tilbury.

Elsewhere, the Thames Enterprise Park will create 400 acres of employment space.

The river, currently an under-used asset (aside from the ports), will be made more accessible as a destination for leisure uses.

13

S

ituated on the north side of the River Thames to the east of London, Thurrock is an area of great contrast. Its ports contribute more than £1 billion to the local economy, while 70% of Thurrock is green belt land.

Rural villages, picturesque market towns and three major ports punctuate the 18 miles of riverfront with associated cranes and gigantic container ships, while industrial parks line the A13, and nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific abound. Thurrock has a well-balanced mix of beauty and business, with £20 billion planned for homes, jobs and infrastructure, over £6 billion of which will be invested in private sector jobs.

Council’s chief executive, Lyn Carpenter, is excited for the borough’s future. “Thurrock is of massive strategic importance,” she says.

“Straddling the M25 immediately to the east of London, it is 30 minutes from the City of London by train, three international airports are within a 45-minute drive, and it has three growing ports that connect the UK to Europe and the rest of the world. Thurrock is one hour’s drive from 18 million people.

“The council is creating a place where people and businesses want to stay and thrive, and developers and investors want to invest. One of its roles is in improvements to the appearance and environment of the borough, including £2 million for improving and upgrading roads last year.

“Investment in infrastructure for the benefit of businesses and residents is key.

Roads, health services, schools and leisure facilities are all required to attract people to live and work in the borough.

There has been a lot of talk about plans in the past but there is now a step-change to actual delivery – masterplans are agreed with contractors on-site and beginning works.

“That is a clear signal of the confidence that is building in Thurrock as a place to invest, and in the council as a committed and ambitious partner to work with.”

14

INTRODUCING THURROCK

T HE COUN CIL IS CREATIN G A P L ACE WHER E P EOP LE A ND BUSINESSES WANT TO S TAY

S P R I N G 2 018

HIDDEN HISTORY

PERFECTIN G PURFLEET

DID YO U K N OW?

READY F OR EMPLOYMENT Thurrock’s newest business park will be the 167.90-ha Thames Enterprise Park on the former oil refinery site in Coryton. The

A woolly mammoth skeleton was found at Aveley in 1964 ❖ Carfax House, in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, is thought to be based on Purfleet House ❖ Scenes from Four Weddings and a Funeral, 28 Days Later, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Batman Begins, Paddington and Wonder Woman were all filmed in Thurrock ❖ Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, owned a brick factory in Tilbury ❖ Purfleet features in several of JMW Turner’s sketches ❖ The song Amazing Grace by Reverend John Newton was inspired by a boating accident in Purfleet ❖ The body of one of the UK’s most famous pirates, Captain Kidd, was gibbeted over the River Thames at Tilbury Point for three years as a deterrent to would-be pirates ❖ Joseph Conrad, author of Heart of Darkness, lived in Stanford-leHope in 1896

THURROCK MAGAZINE

project will be led by Thames Oilport investor Greenergy in partnership with iSec. It will create a centre for energy and environmental technology, including a food park, energy park and a training and skills hub.

The site has 400 acres of employmentready land for development, on the River Thames and 15 minutes from the M25.

Demolition of the former refinery is complete and community consultation sessions were held near the end of 2017. The scheme could create as many as 5,000 jobs.

PRIORITISIN G PORTS DP World London Gateway, one of the fastest growing container ports in the world, also boosts local job figures.

Opened in November 2013, the port currently employs 500 people in roles ranging from traditional dock work to engineers, IT specialists and commercial staff. Due to the robots used on-site, the port employs more IT staff than others and more women too, including the UK’s first female quay crane driver. The majority of staff are local residents, with 85% of employees living within 30 minutes of the site.

The port currently has three deep-water berths, which can accommodate the world’s largest container ships ‑ and there is capacity for six. It is estimated that once all six are completed, 2,000 people will be employed at the park and 10,000 at the adjoining logistics park – the largest in Europe. The number of direct and indirect jobs created by DP World London Gateway once it is at capacity is estimated to be 36,000.

When asked why Thurrock was chosen as the base for its business, Matt Abbott, communications manager at DP World London Gateway, explains: “It was definitely a location-based decision. It’s 25 miles from central London, a one-hour drive from 18 million people. London has a lot of people buying a lot of stuff. It makes sense to bring goods closer to the point of consumption rather than shipping to Southampton.

“We’re encouraging retailers to ship cargo here and move it a short distance to the logistics park, where goods can be sorted and distributed. Our slogan when we opened: ‘ship closer, save money’, still applies now.”

The site’s 83.6-ha logistics park is the largest development of its kind in Europe and

15

Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited’s is leading £1 billion plans for 2,850 new homes, TV and film studios and a new town centre, with shops, leisure facilities and schools.

Swan Housing Association was brought into the joint venture with Urban Catalyst in October 2017. The organisation’s executive director of regeneration and development, Geoff Pearce, says potential change at Purfleet could be likened to the modernisation of Stratford for the Olympics.

“I think it is quite similar with regards to the scale of change this development will bring, and I would like to do it as quickly as we can.

“It has been a very intense period of work to get the planning application in. We’re hugely committed. When the opportunity came up for this project, we thought it was absolutely the right one for us.”

The Purfleet project is also set to feature a media hub, which will provide more than 92,900sq m of TV and film studio space.

Pearce explains: “We have had a lot of very positive discussions with people in the TV and film production industry who struggle to find purpose-built space in the UK. We plan to have six studios, big enough to film a blockbuster or reconfigure as smaller spaces.

“Attracting the creative arts would bring income and spending power, as well as a touch of glamour. All of this will generate jobs for the area, people will aspire to train for positions and we’re looking at including higher education in the plans.”

The media hub will be well-placed in Purfleet, home to High House Production Park – a haven for the creative industries, which includes the Royal Opera House’s Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop and Costume Centre.

Opened in October 2010, all the sets and scenery are created here for productions at the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet. A degree course in Costume Construction now runs from the centre in partnership with South Essex College (see pages 43-45) and the University of the Arts London.

16

HIDDEN HISTORY

is currently 30% complete. UPS opened its biggest ever infrastructure development outside of the United States there in October 2017, creating 350 jobs.

A dedicated rail terminal at the site, which currently handles 3,000 trains annually, recently saw the first ever UK to China export train, taking 19 days rather than the six weeks it can take by sea.

DP World has since been working to win business to enable a more regular service.

Port of Tilbury has a much longer history.

For the past 130 years, many generations of local families have worked there.

Over the last decade, the port’s business has doubled in size and growth is projected to continue and potentially triple the port’s direct employment from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs over the next 10-15 years.

Expansion is needed to allow the business to cope with rising demand. Port of Tilbury submitted an application for a development consent order to the Planning Inspectorate at the end of 2017, to build a new terminal, Tilbury2, on the port’s 61.5-ha site adjacent.

Charles Hammond, chief executive at Forth Ports Group, says: “Tilbury2 is a significant part of the port’s £1 billion investment strategy, as we look to provide the logistics facilities to equip Britain to take advantage of new business opportunities and cement existing trading relationships.”

REN OWNED F OR RETAIL It is not just the ports that are expanding.

The borough’s famous shopping centre, intu Lakeside, is soon to have a 4,645sq m leisure complex, including a family entertainment centre themed on children’s TV network Nickelodeon, as well as restaurants and cafes. The new complex, being built by McLaren, will stretch down to the lake, with a large outdoor area for entertainment and play. Parques Reunidos is to lead delivery of the scheme, which is expected to open in 2018.

Martin Breeden, development director at intu, says: “It is our goal to create innovative and compelling experiences for our visitors and by working with Parques Reunidos and Nickelodeon we will be able to offer a new and exciting experience at one of the busiest and most successful centres in the UK.”

FROM TOWN TO COUNTRY

A TALE OF TWO FORTS Thurrock’s riverfront has historically played an important part in the country’s defence strategy. Two forts survive today.

There has been a defensive building on the site of Coalhouse Fort (above) since 1402. The existing building dates back to the 1860s when a string of forts were created on both sides of the estuary to defend against French attackers.

An artillery blockhouse was built on the site of Tilbury fort on the orders of Henry VIII. It had fallen into ruins by the time the Spanish Armada was a threat and was hastily repaired.

Queen Elizabeth I visited the fort on her way to West Tilbury Camp where she gave her famous speech against the Armada in 1588 claiming she had “the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too”.

The fort that exists today was built during the reign of Charles II, it took 14 years to complete and stands today as one of the best examples of its type.

S P R I N G 2 018

In addition to the plans for Purfleet, the new masterplan for the town centre at Tilbury will focus on a range of initiatives, improvements and new developments for the future, incorporating the area’s assets, location and infrastructure.

Grays will see investment in a £27 million pedestrian underpass and public spaces, as well as new homes and jobs. It is historically known as a chartered market town and the aim is to build on this by creating a “high quality destination” to benefit people living, working and visiting the place.

It is also anticipated this will bring a new generation of residents, who will benefit greatly from the plans, but who will also discover a wealth of existing gems, including the vast swathes of green space that buffer the towns and run alongside the riverfront.

A prime example is Chafford Gorges Nature Park. The 80.9ha of green space, although close to the busy A13, includes two SSSIs and is home to an exceptional array of animals, including glow-worms, bats, newts and migrating birds.

The area at RSPB Rainham Marshes is twice as large, providing a mixed landscape of woodland, marshes, reed beds and meadows.

The park has hides from which to spot the water voles that have made their home here, as well as the many birds and other wildlife.

There are boardwalks and paths to allow year-round visitor access, as well as bike hire and an adventure play area.

Perhaps the most interesting of the borough’s green spaces is Thurrock Thameside Nature Reserve. Hailed as a miracle by Sir David Attenborough when he opened the 93-ha park in 2013, the vistas have been created on what was formerly a landfill site: the haven for rare bees, birds and reptiles sits on top of 50 years of waste.

The nature reserve will grow as time allows the phased release of land for public use eventually covering 343.9ha.

Thurrock’s regeneration plans promise a wholesale transformation and in a borough where there is the creativity and determination to turn a landfill site into a stunning nature reserve, it seems that anything is possible. Watch this space.

INTRODUCING THURROCK

17

OPPORT UN IT IES ARE VA S T. T HURROC K IS T H E PL ACE F OR D E V E LOPERS A N D I NV ES TORS

THURROCK MAGAZINE

Thurrock Thurrock lies on the River Thames immediately to the east of London, and is home to some of the most exciting development opportunities in the country.

Thurrock hosts three international ports at the heart of global trade and logistics and is strategically positioned with excellent transport links to London, the UK, and Europe.

ÂŁ20 billion is

being invested in Thurrock to build homes, create jobs and provide infrastructure

32,000 new homes to

1,000

Over acres of land ready for commercial development

24,500 new jobs

be built in the coming years

by 2036

18 miles of riverfront

35 minutes by train to

central London

In order for Thurrock to deliver this huge growth programme the council is actively seeking developers and investors to partner with them.

Thurrock is THE place open for business.

For more information visit thurrock.gov.uk/growth or email place@thurrock.gov.uk Get involved now!

PORTS

20

EC ON OMY S TREAMS With its major ports, Thurrock, which lies to the north of the River Thames, is home to key UK logistics and distribution centres, which add millions of pounds to the local economy and boost the UK’s trade operations.

They are also vital to the area’s growth and development, as Sarah Herbert finds out

S P R I N G 2 018

PORTS

THURROCK MAGAZINE

21

O

f all UK imports, 95% come in by sea. That’s around 480 million tonnes of freight, either as bulk goods or in about six million containers, which are either driven on and off on lorries (roll-on roll-off, or ‘ro-ro’) or lifted on and off by cranes (‘lo-lo’). In return we also export about 180 million tonnes of goods.

The container shipping industry has undergone great change in the past decade.

Ships now transport 20,000 vast containers (known as 20-foot equivalent units), each capable of holding 48,000 bananas or 400 flat screen TVs. These huge new ships, which are 400m long and 59m wide and go 16m below the surface of the water, pose great challenges to ports that need ever bigger and longer berths, bigger cranes, larger yards and more sophisticated IT systems.

Thurrock’s position in the UK – near Europe, and the country’s most populous city and counties – means it is home to three of the busiest ports in the UK, with all the associated transport, logistics, catering, and other ancillary services.

DP World’s London Gateway Port is connected to more than 110 ports in over 60 countries. It is capable of hosting the

world’s largest ships in its three deep-water berths, with 12 of the world’s largest shipto-shore quay cranes, 60 automated/robotic container stacking cranes and a 775m-long international rail terminal – the UK’s largest.

An extra three deep-water container berths could also be developed, providing 1,250m of quayside, 12 more quay cranes and 60 automated stacking cranes, taking the port’s annual throughput capacity to 3.5 million 20-foot equivalent unit containers.

But it is not just a deep-water port. It is also a fully integrated logistics facility, with an expansive area for warehousing, distribution and logistics services.

The Logistics Park, a development space of around 860,000sq m for warehouse, distribution and logistics services, is currently home to UPS, Dixons Carphone, Lidl and SH Pratt Group, one of Europe’s leading fruit importers, which is taking a lease on a 10,085sq m bespoke temperature-controlled facility from mid-2018.

Such facilities are added to suit the needs of those looking to establish operations and capitalise on the prime location, and transport facilities such as an eight-lane highway. The proximity of the port and logistics facility means cargo doesn’t have to travel so far inland, keeping supply chain costs down, and reducing emissions.

DP World London Gateway is one of the fastest growing ports in the world, according to two industry publications, with container throughput increasing by 36% in 2017.

The port currently employs 500 people directly, and about 200 further catering, security and facilities contractors. Once the port is at full capacity, it will provide employment for around 2,000 people.

On the Logistics Park, UPS, Dixons Carphone, Lidl and freight forwarders based in offices on the site employ, between them, around 600 people at present. But with new facilities due to open this year and early next, it is likely the Logistics Park alone will be the workplace for more than 1,000 people by the beginning of 2019.

Chris Lewis, DP World UK CEO, says: “With expansion comes new opportunities, not just for the 500 staff we currently employ directly, but for the large number of local businesses providing services to us – and to our growing customer base.

PORTS

“Since we began to ramp up operations in 2012, we have trained hundreds of people from scratch in a number of different areas, from port operations to engineering and IT.”

22

DIS TRIBUTION DRIVE With similar economic clout, the 445-ha Port of Tilbury, upstream towards London, is the UK’s third-largest container terminal.

Handling over 1.5 million containers a year, as well as specialising in paper and forest products, the Port of Tilbury has been an important part of the local and regional community for over 130 years, and has employed generations of local families.

Owned by Forth Ports, it has doubled the size of its business in the past 10 years, and is projected to double the cargo volume (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes) and triple the direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years. Forth Ports – one of the UK’s largest port groups – has committed to investing over £1 billion in the port to ensure its continued success.

Expansion is needed to cope with rising demand for construction materials and aggregates from the UK’s building sector, imported and exported cars, as well as an increase in ferry traffic.

The port first opened in 1882 and while it gradually expanded in the 20th century, it really advanced with the closure of the shallower docks nearer London in the 1960s.

During this decade, it saw construction of a mile-long dock, a £30 million container port and what was then Europe’s largest grain terminal. By the early 1980s, Tilbury was the last set of enclosed docks in operation by the Port of London Authority, and in 1992 it was privatised and became part of the Forth Ports organisation.

Today the port has more than 16 independent working terminals, over 7.5km of quayside, 46,451sq m of warehouse space, and its own dedicated London Container Terminal with 1.72km of berths (with the greatest refrigerated container point connectivity in Europe) and over 7km of roads.

Tilbury also hosts London’s only deepwater, purpose-built cruise facility, 22 nautical miles down-river from central London, with a 348m floating landing stage, a minimum 10m depth, and a grade II*-listed cruise terminal.

THE PORT OF TILBURY AND ITS CUSTOMERS ARE ADEPT AT TACKLING COMPLEX BUSINESS CHALLENGE As the UK’s leading port for paper products, processing 3 million tonnes per annum, Tilbury is the major entry port for print houses and publishers in the south-east.

In fact, its strategic location makes it a natural point for distribution for all goods: with nearly 20 million people living within 75 miles, well positioned with access to the M25 orbital motorway and the rest of the UK’s national motorway network. In addition, there are direct rail connections within the port and dedicated barge facilities.

To add to its near 344ha, a planning application was lodged in 2017 for Tilbury2, on a 61.5-ha site, part of the former Tilbury Power Station, which will increase car handling and ferry berthing capacity.

S P R I N G 2 018

It also includes the UK’s largest warehouse at the port’s second extension site – the 28.3ha London Distribution Park — for Amazon UK, which began operating this autumn.

Further upstream towards London is the smaller but still significant 36-ha Purfleet Thames Terminal, which handles around 250,000 trailers containers and tanks a year, including 400,000 vehicles, with two ro-ro berths, and four rail tracks.

THE BREXIT EFFECT With the significance of port trade on Thurrock’s economy, thoughts must be turning to any possible effects of Brexit, in whatever form it takes. Many British shippers are fearful of losing the benefits

PORTS

23

of free trade and customs harmonisation with the EU single market, and fear the red tape and single administrative documents.

Maritime adviser Drewry sees a risk of new inefficiencies and costs here, and a reduction in UK-EU maritime volume.

Businesses and ports need to know how any new taxes and duties payable on goods will change, in order to arrange logistics, IT and the potential construction of substantial amounts of new infrastructure.

According to economic adviser Oxera, the impact of Brexit will depend on the level of regulation, and enforcement. Even a ‘medium friction’ outcome of slow trade (with low regulation, and high enforcement) would cause massive delays at ports.

Oxera estimates the impact of a scenario where each vehicle undergoes lengthy checks to be at least £1 billion per year, even before taking into account any extra staff needed.

However, the worst case scenario of high regulation and high enforcement would be ‘Armageddon’, according to the Port of Dover, potentially leading to an almost-permanent

T R A D I N G P L ACE Amazon UK at the London Distribution Park (above left); DP World London Gateway (above top); Port of Tilbury (above); shipping containers at London Gateway (above right). instigation of ‘Operation Stack’ – with extensive queues to all ports.

None of this seems to faze Peter Ward, commercial director at Port of Tilbury. “The Port of Tilbury and its customers are adept at tackling complex business challenges,” he says. “The government has highlighted the desirability of trusted trader schemes in their recent position paper on customs, and in their white paper on the UK’s customs arrangements post-Brexit.

“Securing ‘authorised economic operator status’ puts Tilbury on the front foot. We are working with Border Force and other government agencies to make sure Tilbury2, our new port proposed on part of the former Tilbury power station site, is fit for purpose

THURROCK MAGAZINE

when the facility opens at the start of 2020.”

Chris Lewis at DP World is equally sanguine. “More than 98% of the cargo currently handled by DP World at its terminals in South Essex and Southampton is non-European,” he says. “So it has been business as usual so far since the referendum.

“Non-European cargo is subject to customs checks that European cargo isn’t, so depending upon the outcome of Brexit negotiations, it may be that European cargo is subject to more stringent checks in future.

“Brexit poses a large number of potential challenges for those involved with trade.

DP World UK is well placed to assist cargo owners, freight agents, government and more with solutions to some of these challenges.

“Aside from world-class, purpose-built inspection facilities, we have teams of industry experts in place, able to collaborate on supply chain solutions – which in the short, medium and long term, could alleviate some of the pressure that Brexit may bring when it comes to the movement of goods in and out of the UK.”

We are the largest technical and vocational education and training provider in Essex With campuses in Southend, Basildon and Thurrock, catering for over 12,000 students and employing 1,000 staff, South Essex College Group is a key provider of skills development at all levels, for a vibrant, ambitious region. Linked by popular rail and bus connections, we’re only 40 minutes away from London too.

Further Education and Skills (FES) Provider August 2017

Initial Teacher Education in FES Sector November 2016

South Essex College opened an exciting new development in Grays town centre in 2014. The new Thurrock Campus provides students with state-ofthe-art facilities in industry areas such as construction, engineering, catering and hair & beauty.

South Essex College was recently awarded a grade 2 at Ofsted, a significant milestone for the education and training provider as well as the wider community.

Teacher training at the College has also been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted. The College is now one of the few all-round further education providers to be recognised as ‘good’ in Essex.

Plus our higher education provision met expectations in our recent QAA report.

For more information about the College visit www.southessex.ac.uk

RETAIL

SPECIAL OFFER The Lakeside shopping centre has been a major Thurrock attraction for decades, but what are the plans for its future and how will it maintain its relevance and appeal?

Karen Jensen-Jones reports

25

THURROCK MAGAZINE

RETAIL

26

I

n our 21st century culture of rapid change, nothing stands still for very long, and our shopping habits are no exception.

Since the revolution of internet shopping, retailers have had to try much harder to secure customers and intu Lakeside in Thurrock, one of the UK’s most successful shopping centres, has taken the challenge to another level.

“The hardest thing about any shopping centre is getting people through the front door,” explains Howard Oldstein, regional centre director at intu Lakeside. “This shopping centre has been here for 27 years and it needs to evolve. There’s an expectation now that if you go to a shopping centre, it doesn’t matter how good the retail is, it’s not always enough.”

With shopping centre group Hammerson taking over intu in a £3.4 billion deal brokered last year, both companies significant retail property portfolios and combined expertise have enhanced their positions in the market.

With a more efficient and adaptable platform, the company is able to respond to fast changing consumer preferences and retail trends which intu Lakeside – the consumer brand will continue to be used – have taken advantage of.

INTU: THE FUTURE Over its 27 years, there have been numerous refurbishments to the site, but Oldstein admits nothing fundamental has ever really changed.

“We were looking for a new opportunity that will make people go ‘wow’ and we soon realised that a major leisure experience would be the way forward.

“We approached Nickelodeon, which already has similar operations in Europe, to develop a Nickelodeon-themed indoor family entertainment centre, the first of its kind in the UK. “I’ve worked in retail since I was 16 and one of the biggest changes I’ve seen is the value in entertainment. We are a destination and we want people to stay here for as long as they can, so they need entertaining.” intu Lakeside, with its annual footfall in excess of 20 million, aims to provide a compelling leisure experience that lasts from early morning to late evening.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNIT Y FOR RETAIL BUSINESS AND WE’LL ALL BENEFIT

S P R I N G 2 018

“We want to attract customers and deliver enhanced footfall, dwell time and loyalty, which will encourage occupancy and income growth,” continues Oldstein.

“We’re used to late night operating as we have many restaurants on our boardwalk that are open until 11pm.

“Nickelodeon and our plans for a new Hollywood Bowl, not to mention the existing cinemas will give people another reason to come to this shopping centre and stay late.

If we stand still, we’ll be taken over by our competitors and that’s why we have this exciting multimillion pound investment programme under way.”

The new family entertainment centre will provide more than 4,645sq m of entertainment space and is expected to open in 2019.

It will contain a large variety of interactive adventure zones, dedicated space for children, numerous attractions and Nickelodeon-

RETAIL

SU B HEA D ER I N H ER E Aces expediti nullabore aut libus dolorepudae corerrum volorum rem faccum fugiae consequ oditiandi aciis doloremo ommosto rundebis pel mi, sit pro te nem quide modigenda vene nemporerspis nient quia doluptissi con conet est, saest, ipsapel

C ENT R E P RO G R ES S

themed rooms, which will be used for birthday parties and family get-togethers.

WHERE DO THE C HILDREN PL AY? “Children and teenagers are very different today from when I was growing up and they get bored more quickly,’ says Oldstein. “If they’re not on an Xbox or a Playstation, what do they do?

“You need to entice them with a good programme of events that caters for all age groups and Nickelodeon will certainly excite the younger children, while the new Hollywood Bowl and TGI Friday will capture the teenagers.”

The existing site is being refigured to ensure as little disruption to shoppers as possible. Two car parks will become part of the new build but that still leaves 12,500 free car parking spaces for customers.

“We’re always looking at how we can improve the existing site and make better

THURROCK MAGAZINE

27

New leisure destinations and space for restaurant chains are planned for the redevelopment of intu Lakeside (left and below).

Projections showing how the redevelopment will shape up include the provision of car parking on the roof (above).

use of the land and taking out only two car parks won’t have much impact on shoppers,” Oldstein explains.

“When Westfield was first built and during the London 2012 Olympics, everyone thought travelling was going to be a nightmare but it proved to be quite straightforward. Here we have good infrastructure and excellent links to the M25, the M1 and the A13, so we don’t anticipate any major travel issues.

“We’ve been here long enough to have established good movement to allow cars to get to our location, and there’s plenty of parking and convenient lifts and escalators.”

Oldstein is keen to point out that the opportunity will also be vital for local vendors and the wider Thurrock community.

“We’re a big business and part of a larger company and working with our local community is particularly important to us,’ he says. “Five hundred new opportunities will be provided for new staff as part of our efforts to manufacture ourselves within the local community and not exempt ourselves.

“This is a great opportunity for retail business and we’ll all benefit. Nickelodeon is a starting block for change and will no doubt encourage other centres to follow our lead.

He adds: “It will certainly be somewhere that people will want to visit and once we get people here, it will be much easier to keep them.”

EVENTS WORKSHOPS ● LAUNCHES ● TOURS ● RECEPTIONS CONFERENCES ● MEETINGS ● ROUND-TABLES

Natasha Pullan – head of events natasha@3foxinternational.com Lottie Gregory – event manager lottie@3foxinternational.com

Hemini Mistry – events assistant hemini@3foxinternational.com

020 7978 6840

PROJECTS

PROJECTS Grays, Tilbury and Purfleet are three areas of Thurrock well-positioned for growth – what are the key schemes and how much progress is being made?

ESSEX

LONDON

29

M25 A13 10

8

A13 PURFLEET 7

9

INTU LAKESIDE

A1089

3 GRAYS

1

MAP KEY

2 5

4 7

EAST TILBURY

TILBURY 6

1 GRAYS MASTERPLAN 2

TOPS CLUB

3 BELMONT ROAD 4

PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS

5 CALCUTTA ROAD 6

M25

KENT

RIVERSIDE BUSINESS CENTRE

7 TILBURY AND PURFLEET

INTEGRATED MEDICAL CENTRES 8 STANFORD-LE-HOPE INTERCHANGE 9 PURFLEET CENTRE REGENERATION 10 A13 WIDENING

THURROCK MAGAZINE

PROJECTS

30

GRAYS

1. GRAYS MASTERPLAN Grays is Thurrock’s main administrative centre and one of the six major locations for regeneration in the borough being transformed through new investment.

The Grays Town Centre ‘framework refresh’ builds on what has already been achieved and progresses other key priorities, including a new £27 million rail crossing with more than £10 million funding coming from central government through the Local Growth Fund.

Developments in Grays have included the opening of South Essex College (see pages 43-45) and The Old Courthouse Business Centre in the former Magistrates Court, as well as the formation of the Grays Town Partnership which is promoting the town centre through ‘Love Grays’.

The plans will support the vision for the area, including spaces for local businesses to grow, making it easier to travel, cycle and walk around the town centre and making the most of the riverfront.

Building on its strengths as a chartered market town, the aim for Grays is a high quality destination, in which people are able to live, work, learn, shop and socialise.

Reconnected to the River Thames, Grays will support growing resident, student and business communities throughout the day and entertain a diverse and vibrant population through the evening.

Cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and markets will combine with culture, entertainment and events to provide a safe and attractive place for communities to meet and businesses to thrive.

The London Fenchurch Street to Tilbury and Shoeburyness C2C railway line cuts

S P R I N G 2 018

through Grays town centre, with a level crossing in the high street which must be frequently closed to allow trains to pass.

Thurrock is working with Network Rail and c2c on plans to replace the level crossing with a new high quality pedestrian underpass. The project secured £10.8 million from the government’s Local Growth Fund and the council is progressing the plans. Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2022.

As part of the wider regeneration of Grays town centre, approval has also been given for the refurbishment of the Civic Offices, which the council believes demonstrates its commitment to Grays.

These plans will reflect the exciting ambitions of the wider Grays masterplan and will be designed with residents in mind, as well as creating a front door for investors and businesses.

PROJECTS

BUILDING ON ITS STRENGTHS AS A CHARTERED MARKET TOWN, THE AIM FOR GRAYS IS A HIGH QUALIT Y DESTINATION

2. TOPS CLUB

3. BELMONT ROAD A housing scheme on Belmont Road in Grays was granted full planning approval in October 2017.

It will feature 80 terraced and semi-detached houses, with a courtyard of 10 bungalows at the centre of the development.

Three pocket parks will also be incorporated, with one set to feature children’s play facilities.

The scheme is being developed

by Thurrock Council’s own development company, Thurrock Regeneration Ltd. The homes are the first of 1,000 units it will deliver over the next five years.

Its proposed tenure mix complies with Thurrock’s planning policy, by allocating 35% of properties as affordable housing and shared ownership, with the remainder being for private sale.

Thurrock Regeneration Limited (TRL) plans to expand beyond its original target of building 350-500 properties by securing an increased development pipeline of homes, which will be available for rent, sale and supported ownership.

TRL’s first development is at the former St Chad’s School site in Tilbury, comprising 57 two-bedroom homes, 63 three-bedroom homes and eight four-bedroom houses.

Construction work is expected to start in June 2018.

THURROCK MAGAZINE

31

In addition to the Civic Offices, the council is also building new homes in Grays.

The former Tops Club site (pictured) in Argent Street is being redeveloped for 29 flats – which will be earmarked as affordable to rent – and retail space.

The five-storey block is near the town centre and station. A completion date is scheduled for 2019.

PROJECTS

TILBU RY

T

32

he council’s masterplan vision for Tilbury contains a range of initiatives, improvements and new developments to support the vision for the area.

The Tilbury masterplan focuses on the area’s assets, location and existing infrastructure.

The masterplan framework will guide further developments, enabling local residents and businesses to make the most of the opportunities that will be created.

In recent years, Tilbury has seen a number of significant developments including the creation of hundreds of jobs at Amazon’s fulfilment centre, one of the UK’s largest, in London Distribution Park and 128 new homes on the St Chad’s School site, delivered by the council’s development company, Thurrock Regeneration Ltd.

4. PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS

Tilbury features many parks, both in the centre and residential neighbourhoods, but the public realm has not made for an active street life.

As a result, Thurrock Council has identified strategic corridors where public realm should be improved. Main routes into Tilbury are identified in the development framework as in need of a makeover, as well as earmarked improvements to improve street drainage for flood prevention measures. More continuous street-facing frontages with active uses at the ground floor, modern street furniture – including benches, bins and cycle stands – new planting and resurfacing are also part of the proposals.

Narrower roads, but wider footpaths and cycle lanes will also be provided.

A concept design and set of public realm principles was created for the Civic Square in 2015. It is intended other projects should coordinate with the public realm strategy, with a coherent palette of

materials and consistent look to the public realm furniture and lighting implemented, and high quality architectural design and ground floor space for a range of activities.

The council also plans to improve physical and visual links between Tilbury town and the River Thames, with a new north-south corridor. The northern part of this would be brought to life by active ground floor uses along London Road, to help to guide people from the Calcutta Road towards the waterfront.

Its southern part would maintain the visual link to the historic Tilbury Fort and integrate its setting with a new railway bridge and pedestrian routes to the riverfront and fort entrance.

A loop walk would be created around Tilbury Fort to change it from its somewhat hidden setting into a focus of local interest.

The public space outside the TilburyGravesend ferry terminal should be enhanced to improve the experience of ferry passengers, including landscaping to soften the appearance of the industrial uses opposite the terminal.

S P R I N G 2 018

5. CALCUTTA ROAD Calcutta Road (above) is to form the link between the improved Tilbury station and Tilbury’s Civic Square, with a project designed to inject character and identity.

It also connects into the London Cruise Terminal, where the Empire Windrush docked from Kingston, Jamaica 70 years ago – an important gateway to Tilbury, Thurrock and the UK. As well as improving the public realm, the council has also consulted on providing homes for older people in Calcutta Road and will be building 35 new homes to meet the need.

PROJECTS

Notes:

Do not scale d Dimensions m dimensions to All given dime setting out an

P 1 31/10/17

Rev Date Project:

Stanfor Transp Client:

Morgan and In

Drawing ti

Propos

Doc no:

STP- MS Date:

31/10/1

Drawn by:

sac

File Ref: (in

13015-04-d

33

View of proposal looking south east

6. RIVERSIDE BUSINESS CENTRE EXPANSION The refurbished Riverside Business Centre has expanded and now offers workshops, studio units and offices close to the River Thames, the Port of Tilbury, and Tilbury Fort.

Workspaces are available, ranging from 9.2sq m to 176sq m, depending on occupiers’ needs. ‘Virtual’ offices are available and local businesses can also hire meeting rooms.

Riverside Business Centre is easily accessible from the A13, from junction 30 of the M25 and by the pedestrian ferry from Gravesend.

7. TILBURY INTEGRATED MEDICAL CENTRES Thurrock Council is delivering an integrated medical centre for Tilbury’s Civic Square. This would be one of four such hubs across the borough.

The project will cost up to £20 million and provide modern facilities to cater for a growing population, prioritising the need for modern services being delivered in local residential areas.

Medical facilities in the borough have tended to be provided by single GP practices, which can offer limited facilities and specialisms, whereas a medical centre could offer a wider range under one roof.

THURROCK MAGAZINE

8.STANFORDLE-HOPE INTERCHANGE Work is underway to deliver a major redevelopment of Stanford-le-Hope railway station, creating a modern transport hub with space for buses, cyclists and vehicle drop-offs.

The improved interchange will provide transport connections to support job growth at DP World London Gateway and Thames Enterprise Park, as well as local housing developments.

Much of the current station will be cleared and the new station will provide step-free access from the street, commercial units, waiting rooms and a wider platform with covered waiting areas on Londonbound trains. There will also be additional space for buses and taxis, as well as secure cycle parking spaces.

PROJECTS

P URFLEET

34

9. PURFLEET CENTRE REGENERATION

WELCOME TO PURFLEET

Thurrock Council is working with Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL) on a £1 billion scheme for Purfleet.

Swan Housing Association was announced as a major partner for the project in October 2017, with Urban Catalyst acting as development manager for the modernisation of Purfleet town centre, seeking to create an exciting and visionary new centre for the historic town.

The scheme will feature a new rail station, 2,850 homes, spaces for businesses and open areas for residents.

There will also be a new 92,900sq m film and TV studios complex, developed by Quartermaster. TheRIVERVIEW first complex of its kind in the UK in 50 years, it will provide 2,000 jobs, with the aim being to attract some of the world’s largest production companies in multimedia, video gaming and post-production.

More school places, an integrated medical centre and new shops, cafes and restaurants will also be created.

Phase one will see improvements to the railway station and bridge crossing, new primary and secondary schools and an integrated medical centre.

A bridge over the railway line will replace the level crossing road and improvements will be made to the riverfront walkway.

The scheme is one of the most significant in Thurrock, bringing new facilities and services to existing and new residents. Planning proposals also suggest opening up Purfleet’s somewhat hidden river frontage.

An outline planning application was submitted at the end of 2017 and a deatiled application in February 2018. If approved, construction work is expected to start in late 2018 with the first phase set for completion by 2021.

10. A13 WIDENING The main A13 road from London to Southend passes though Thurrock and preparation work is underway to widen the Stanford-le-Hope bypass from two lanes to three in both directions.

This project has had £70 million of government funding confirmed, while London Gateway owner DP World will provide a further £10 million.

Work will start in 2018 and take two years to complete. Kier Construction has been appointed as contractor and Atkins as designer. The A13 is a major route through Thurrock and plays an important role in enabling the growth of new homes and jobs.

Widening this stretch of the road will support both current and future demand and will also allow better freight operations.

S P R I N G 2 018

It is expected £3.3 billion of development – at DP World London Gateway, Thames Enterprise Park, Lakeside basin and the Port of Tilbury, all near to this main road – will ultimately see the creation of 33,000 new jobs.

Work started in December 2017 on clearing vegetation and creating a fenced area for works vehicles to access.

NATIONAL INFLUENCE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

EBBSFLEET

36

ENTERPRISE

S P R I N G 2 018

ENTERPRISE

LET’S GO TO

WORK

As the Thames Estuary region grows in stature and attracts international attention as a major growth hub, Jane Thynne reports on the huge economic opportunities heading to Thurrock

S

SUS TAIN ABLE GROW TH “We are certainly targeting the food sector,” explains Mike Forster, development director at iSec. “The aim is to cluster businesses together, offering cost savings through synergies. Being so close to London, it’s also a great way for manufacturers to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Forster is also hoping the hubs will provide vital support for each other and cites the current demand for waste-to-energy operations as one example. “If we do have an energy hub on-site there will then be the potential to have a ‘private wire’ – basically our own electricity network provided by a waste-to-energy scheme,” he says.

The sustainable industries hub is mainly centred on the smaller and medium-sized

THURROCK MAGAZINE

37

tanding at the heart of the Thames Gateway and benefiting from 18 miles of bustling river, rail and road connectivity, it is easy to see why Thurrock is a hotbed for regeneration. Over the next 10 years, the area will be buzzing with commercial activity as key industries, including energy, logistics, food and the arts all make their way to this Essex enclave.

One of the most significant transformations currently under way is at the Thames Enterprise Park on the site of the former Coryton Oil Refinery. The park, a joint venture by fuel supplier Greenergy (which currently uses part of the wider site for the Thames Oilport fuel terminal) and iSec, is being developed as a 168-ha industrial “Superhub”. The multimillionpound scheme is being mooted as “north-west Europe’s largest industrial regeneration” project and is set to create in excess of 5,000 jobs.

The multi-modal location will be made up of four zones comprising: food, energy, sustainable industries and innovation. And the team is hoping to have plots ready for the new businesses as soon as spring 2019.

38

ENTERPRISE

businesses which will support the larger food and energy markets. These will include research and development firms, start-up supply companies, packaging and so on.

“The aim is to be an incubator for smaller companies. We want to help them grow and succeed,” explains Forster. “Training is another important area we are looking at in terms of sustainability for the main industries and an on-site education centre is something we are keen to develop.”

Aside from the industry, a sizable amenity quarter would offer hotel and conferencing, retail and leisure in support of the other hubs, and are all job creators in their own right.

ART ATTAC K Thurrock has already seen major arts investment with the arrival of the High House Production Park in Purfleet. The outcome of a collaboration between the Royal Opera House (ROH), Creative & Cultural Skills, Acme Studios, Thurrock Council, Arts Council England and government agencies, the first phase of this 5.6-ha site was completed in 2010 when Royal Opera House’s (ROH) Bob and Tamar Manoukian Set Production workshop opened. It now also hosts the National College’s Backstage Centre, Acme Artists’ Studios and the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Costume Centre.

As well as storing the ROH costumes and archive collection, the latter also delivers a

WE ARE LOOKING AT CREATING AT LEAST 1,000 JOBS AROUND THE STUDIO SCHEME

S P R I N G 2 018

degree course in Costume Construction, in partnership with South Essex College and University of the Arts London.

Developing the area as an international hub for the innovative arts will be boosted by a new creative and media suite.

The Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL) scheme, which is being delivered by Swan in partnership with Urban Catalyst, is set to bring 2,850 new homes, a primary and secondary school, upgraded rail infrastructure and leisure and retail opportunities to this Thameside town.

At the centre of the project is The Quartermaster Studios – a 55,741sq m media village, featuring film sets and production suites. This would be the first development of its kind in the UK for half a century and is in line with mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s vision to turn the Thames Estuary into a “creative industries corridor”, building on the region’s strength as a cultural powerhouse, which is said to be worth around £35 billion a year to London’s economy alone.

“There is a great demand for high-level studio space. Pinewood is the only other alternative and is completely oversubscribed,” explains Geoff Pearce, Swan’s executive director of regeneration and development. “As people stream more and more, so the need for content grows and that creates jobs. We are looking at creating at least 1,000 jobs around the studio scheme at least,” he adds.

ENTERPRISE

CU LT U R A L D ES T I N AT ION : Innovation will be spurred in Thurrock at new facilities including the Thames Enterprise Park (far left), the Quartermaster studios (left), the Royal Opera House’s Set Production Workshop (below far left) and through £1 billion plans for Purfleet (below left).

SHIFTIN G F OCUS

independent and chain retailers and eateries all contribute to employment levels.

Alongside employability is education.

There are ambitions for a university campus, focusing on health training and the creative arts, which it is hoped will tie-in with the current offer (High House, ROH) and the new Quartermaster Studios, supplying skilled workers for the future of the media industry.

The aim of the whole Thurrock regeneration masterplan is to attract forwardthinking individuals to the area.

THURROCK MAGAZINE

“The redevelopment teams are not the only ones to note the area’s appeal to the entrepreneurial. The School for Social Entrepreneurs, which offers students the opportunity to learn from established and successful local social enterprises, as well as business professionals, including accountants, lawyers and marketeers, opened its doors at the Thurrock Adult Education College last September.

“The response to the programme has been very positive. With Thurrock being the home of several established social enterprises, delivering the programme from here made perfect sense,” says Digby Chacksfield, chief executive of the School for Social Entrepreneurs East.

He adds: “People who attend our courses have ranged in age from 18 to 65 and come from diverse cultural backgrounds.

“We believe the individual’s passion for change is what matters most, not where they come from or what their academic qualifications might be.”

And it is that passion for change which is driving the whole regeneration.

As iSec’s Forster says: “We have the opportunity to build something that will be fit for purpose for the industries of the future.

Thurrock is somewhere we hope people will go to – somewhere they can work, somewhere they can bring their ideas, somewhere they can learn and somewhere they can create.”

39

According to Urban Catalyst’s executive director, Ken Dytor, the timing of the build could not be better. “Soho [the traditional centre of media in London] is seeing its media strength dissipated because so many buildings are being sold for residential. It’s just too expensive. Suddenly we look very attractive, especially as we already have High House and the Royal Opera House,” he says.

“I am looking at getting critical mass and creating, dare I say it, ‘Soho on the Thames’.

“If we’ve got the TV and film studios, the post-production, basically the core centres, we can build in hotels, health clubs, retail support and so on. We will be able to deliver a range of opportunities for the community.

We don’t want this to be a dormitory town, we want people to be travelling here, we want this to be a destination. It will be creating media placemaking, which is very exciting.”

According to Pearce, the proposed plan for Purfleet is a “complete transformation” rather than a run-of-the-mill regeneration and has a 10-year timespan, along with a £1 billion price tag.

Pearce hopes changes to existing infrastructure, such as the addition of a road and footbridge to replace the level crossing and the creation of a new town centre, will help drive job creation.

More than 1,021sq m has been earmarked for business use and around 1,300sq m for

40

CONNECTIVITY

F OLLOW W THE FLOW Thurrock’s connectivity benefits are set to be improved in a myriad of ways, connecting the borough by rail, road, air and river to markets across the globe.

James Cracknell reports S P R I N G 2 018

hen the Romans, AngloSaxons and Tudors chose the area now known as Thurrock for building settlements and fortifications, they saw the same potential as infrastructure planners do today. As an entry point into London – but also a destination in its own right – Thurrock boasts access to world-class transport routes. It is famously home to the Port of Tilbury, the capital’s principal dock and a major driver of investment ever since the advent of containerisation. But the port is just one part of Thurrock’s story.

The M25 orbital motorway opened in the mid-1980s and was a key factor in the decision to build Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock later that same decade.

The railway line between Southend and London Fenchurch Street, which stops at eight stations in the borough, also ensures the area remains an essential part of the

CONNECTIVITY

commuter belt. Then two international airports are within easy reach: London City Airport, a half-hour drive to the west, and London Southend Airport, roughly the same distance to the east. Such connections ensure Thurrock remains an attractive proposition for multinational businesses.

Network Rail recently named c2c, the operator of the railway through Thurrock, as providing the UK’s most punctual train service. Almost 96% of trains on the route arrived on time during 2017, compared to the national average of 84%. The news followed a major boost to capacity between Thurrock and London at the start of last year, with the introduction by c2c of three double-length eight-carriage trains during peak hours.

T R A NSP O R T HU B

Pictured: The Dartford Crossing (far left), where traffic mitigation could soon be implemented by the Lower Thames Crossing. Thurrock has excellent access by air, road, river and track (left from top).

ALSO A DESTINATION IN ITS OWN RIGHT, THURROCK HAS ACCESS TO WORLDCLASS TRANSPORT CROSSRAIL C ALLIN G? Plans to improve rail services in Thurrock don’t end there, however. Crossrail 2 is the next major infrastructure project in the pipeline for London and ongoing discussions include the possibility of an east London branch of the £27 billion railway, that would terminate at Grays.

The idea was first highlighted in a 2016 study by transport consultancy firm GHD, which was commissioned jointly by local councils in Hackney, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, and Essex.

This eastern phase of the new railway, which could be built by the 2030s, would reduce journey times from Thurrock into London and provide a direct link to highspeed services from Stratford International.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan threw his weight behind Crossrail 2 last year and the government has agreed to take the plans forward. A final decision on the route is due shortly.

THURROCK MAGAZINE

41

On the roads, relieving congestion remains a big priority. Construction has already begun on one major improvement scheme in Thurrock, while another is being planned.

The £80 million project to widen the A13 Stanford-le-Hope bypass from two to three lanes began at the start of this year and will take just under two years to complete.

The A13 dual carriageway is the main east-west route through the Thames Gateway region and remains pivotal to supporting growth plans for thousands of new homes and jobs, as well as ensuring Thurrock’s ports remain competitive.

Thurrock Council says the scheme will create more than 4,000 jobs and meet “both current and future demand”.

Meanwhile, plans for the Lower Thames Crossing are progressing. Three options for the long-mooted road were published in 2013 and, following a series of public consultations, a preferred route was announced by Chris Grayling, the secretary of state for transport in 2017.

It will connect the M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock via a tunnel under the Thames just east of Gravesend, costing around £6.2 billion.

Grayling says: “The new Lower Thames Crossing, and other improvements in and around Dartford and Thurrock, will further strengthen our economy while also creating thousands of jobs.”

Work on the Lower Thames Crossing is scheduled to begin in 2021 and be complete by 2027. It is expected to carry 4.5 million heavy goods vehicles in its first year, helping to create 6,000 jobs and boost the economy by £8 billion.

An additional £10 million will be spent

by Highways England to improve traffic flow around the existing Dartford crossing, as well as studying ways to further tackle congestion in Thurrock.

Behind every big idea sits a big plan. We’ve been helping Thurrock with both since 2005.

And we’re only getting started.

Delivery | Design | Engagement | Heritage | Impact Management | Planning | Sustainable Development | Transport Glasgow : 177 West George Street | Glasgow | G2 2LB London : Flitcroft House | 114 - 116 Charing Cross Road | London | WC2H 0JR Manchester : That Space | 31 Princess Street | Manchester | M2 4EW www.iceniprojects.com |

iceni-projects |

iceniprojects |

iceniprojects

EDUCATION

a new in a

NEW TOWN With its range of modern facilities, South Essex College’s new campus in Thurrock is preparing students for the future in a variety of sectors, retaining the local skill base and providing benefits for residents.

Jessica Pickard reports

THURROCK MAGAZINE

43

C AREER

44

EDUCATION

W

hen the Earl of Wessex opened the £45 million Thurrock campus for South Essex College, local reports understandably focused on new opportunities for young people to gain qualifications. However, colleges nowadays do a great deal more than produce students with certificates, and there is nothing ‘ivory tower’ about South Essex College.

The site at Thurrock was designed to look outwards, not inwards, appealing not just to young students, but also to businesses and local people.

From an aerial point of view, the two new teaching buildings – east and west – seem positioned like outreached ‘arms’, separated by a bowl of green space with walkways for visitors. The view from above also shows what looks at first like a Roman excavation, but is in fact a newly built outdoor amphitheatre for public events.

When events are held such as film screenings, members of the public are likely to find they are directed to their seats by student ambassadors and that catering is provided by students studying hospitality.

LIFE ON C AMPUS

THEY ARE LEARNING ALONGSIDE THE VERY BEST PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR FIELD

S P R I N G 2 018

This twin focus on learning and public services creates a win-win situation: students get real-life work experience and the people of Grays get access to additional facilities. Elsewhere on-site they can visit the hairdressing salon, go for beauty treatments or drop into the coffee shop or Waves restaurant, a popular option with the council workers, whose office is just across the road.

South Essex College is determinedly vocational and, although it does offer academic and general education classes, in the main students come here to learn a trade or to start on a career path. It is important therefore that teaching takes place in upto-date facilities echoing standards in the outside world of employment. Students here can opt for courses from entry to professional level in health, business, IT, sports, arts and performing arts, media, painting and decorating, hairdressing, catering, construction and engineering.

One burgeoning area is the study of logistics, a growing employment sector, but not a subject you will normally find in

EDUCATION

one of the first to open a warehouse. Given the complexities of unloading, storing and distributing thousands of tons of goods every day, it is not difficult to see why the college’s Thurrock campus has turned its attention to teaching logistics.

The same logic applies to a very different academic specialism. Since 2015, Thurrock has been home to students who are learning how to make garments for theatre, ballet, opera and TV and hoping for a career in costume construction.

Modules over the three-year degree course, which is validated by the University of the Arts London, include hand sewing techniques, pattern cutting and garment construction. Again, this is a specialist and skills shortage area.

CULTURAL OVERTURES

PREPA R ED FO R WO R K Clockwise: South Essex College offers courses in hairdressing; its £35 million campus; principal Angela O’Donoghue with Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex on opening day; Waves restaurant; a student studying costume design.

OPENIN G THE GATE Some of those jobs may come from just down the road. Once again an aerial view explains why, showing, just east of the college, the fat, grey bulge in the Thames before it narrows on the map towards London 30 miles away.

This estuary is the location of the new DP World London Gateway, a semi-automated, container terminal (see pages 20-23) that is developing vast warehousing and distribution facilities. The sea depth here can handle the biggest container ships in the world.

The German grocery chain Lidl has been

THURROCK MAGAZINE

45

schools. On these courses, students will learn how to think their way through complicated organisational sequences that can apply in many different fields of work, be it transport, warehousing, construction or the military.

It is a crucial dimension of supply chain management and can even apply in more abstract ways to predict the flow of information or ideas. “And the logistics industry has a unique selling point”, says Mark Bentley, the college’s operation director of logistics, “lots of jobs.”

Aside from the practical skills, students also need to gain a deep historical understanding of the kinds of clothing and accessories worn in different epochs by different social groups, but then to go on to construct them with modern materials that allow singers and dancers to move on stage.

The college’s prestigious partnership with Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House creates the vocational context for this course, offering opportunities for real life project briefs and work experience placements.

“This is a fantastic example of industry and higher education coming together to invest in young people, says Alex Beard, chief executive of the Royal Opera House.

“They are learning alongside the very best professionals in their field, and gaining skills that employers so desperately need.”

The students will find plenty of inspiration for their work among the 20,000 Royal Opera House costumes and wigs stored at the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Costume Centre, the building where the degree course is taught, a few miles from the Grays campus.

Abi Thompson, head of art and design at the college, says: “This is a unique collaboration. I don’t know of any other partnership like this in the UK or even Europe. The course will give students a fantastic CV, they will be employable as soon as they graduate, with their skill levels and contacts in the industry second-to-none.”

FACTS AND FIGURES

THURROC K IN NUMBERS Thurrock Council is promoting the message that it is “open for business”

£20

46

BILLION IS BEING INVESTED IN THURROCK FOR HOMES, JOBS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

More than

400 hectares of land ready for commercial development

£1 billion+ Gross Value Added to the UK economy through Thurrock’s ports

THE THAMES ENTERPRISE PARK WILL BE A 168-HA INDUSTRIAL SUPER-HUB: THE SCHEME IS PROJECTED TO CREATE OVER 5,000 JOBS

24,500 96 Almost

£100

MILLION LOCAL GROWTH FUND awarded for infrastructure This will include the A13 widening, Grays underpass, cycle routes

JOBS WILL BE CREATED BY 2037

18 MILES OF THE BOROUGH IS ON THE RIVER THAMES

THE £1 BILLION PURFLEET REGENERATION SCHEME WILL SPAN 10 YEARS THURROCK MAGAZINE

%

of trains on the route of the c2c line through Thurrock arrived on time in 2017

32,000

NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS

70

%

of Thurrock is green belt

SCHOOLS

47

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE SITEMATCH LONDON 2018 A SUCCESS 221 delegates 42 public sector landowners 331 meetings

See you next year!

For more information about Sitematch London, or to get involved with next year’s event, please contact Josie Brewer josie@3foxinternational.com or Paul Gussar paul@3foxinternational.com

THURROCK MAGAZINE

THURROCK

We supply 15% of the UK’s road fuel from Thurrock and are investing further in the borough.

GREENERGY IS THE UK’S LARGEST FUEL SUPPLIER. Thurrock’s location is strategically important:

A10 M11 A406

• • • •

On the river Thames for fuel imports by ship Close to oil markets A12 Proximity to population density and fuel demand M25 An extensive motorway and truck road network

• Skilled and experienced logistics personnel.

A1

A130

A127

A12

Thurrock M25

LONDON GATEWAY

A13

Navigator Thames

www.greenergy.com

A13

Thames Oilport

I S SUE ON E SP RIN G 2018

The home of our fuel operations in the South East of England