Thames Gateway's Purfleet set for £500m makeover

The government has announced a plan to transform Purfleet town centre in the Thames Gateway, with up to £500m of new public and private investment.

The proposed regeneration scheme, to be undertaken through a public-private partnership, will include the construction of 2,970 new homes built and generate 1,141 new jobs.

Denham: "I'm confident we'll get some innovative bids from developers"

Bids from private developers are now being sought, the secretary of state for communities and local government, John Denham, announced yesterday.

He said: “This scheme would provide local people in Purfleet with the community facilities they've long wanted and the homes they need. The benefits of the redevelopment would go way beyond Purfleet and provide a real boost to the Thames Gateway.

“Now it's for the private sector to come forward to show what can be done. I'm confident we'll get some innovative bids from developers. We'll be looking for high quality proposals that are affordable and deliver value for money for the taxpayer.”

Speaking at this year's Thames Gateway Forum, Denham also welcomed news that a new National Skills Academy for the Creative and Cultural Industries to be based in Purfleet has been given the go-head. The academy will train people in technical skills that are in short supply in the creative industry.