TGSEP logoThe Church of England and the Thames GatewayWhat is happening in the

Thames Gateway South Essex?

September 2007

 

Text Box: So what’s going on? The last of these progress reports was published in March 2006 and much water has passed under the bridge since then, but if you were to ask around South Essex the general opinion would probably be that nothing has happened. However in practice decisions are being made that will effect the area for generations. In the autumn of 2006, following a government reorganisation which created the Deptartment for Communities and Local Government, a Chief Executive for the Thames Gateway was appointed (Judith Armitt, the wife of John, who heads the Olympic delivery body!) and an Interim Plan was published. This endorsed and developed the existing plans. Local Authorities and delivery organisations were then asked for input and this has now been submitted. We await the final plan or at least an update to the Interim! Since the Interim Plan we have had a change of Prime Minister and recently an announcement of a further increase in house building fom 1.8 to 3 million new homes. How many of the additional homes could be in the Thames Gateway is unknown. However much is known. The Thames Gateway is a 20-30 year programme and the initial major developments will not be in Essex but in London and Kent including the Olympic developments, Barking Reach, Ebsfleet and Eastern Quarry, Kent. In each of these areas plans for the developments have been published, planning permission sought and, in the case of the Olympics, a timetable for development is very clear! However progress has been made in South Essex with the most important announcement being the final go ahead for the new container port east of Tilbury. Thurrock is progressing with consultations over their plans for further expansion and Basildon has published Masterplans for its town centres and is currently looking for development partners. Southend has recently published its Master Plan with proposals for an extension of the town centre to include a quarter focused around St John’s Church and also major extensions to the educational areas that have recently been developed. Whilst, in most cases, we are still a few years away from seeing much in the way of building in South Essex, it is now that the decisions are being made that will define the communities that we and our children will live in the future.

 

Text Box: Shellhaven. The development, of a new container port on the site of an old oil refinery between Tilbury and Canvey Island, was given the final go ahead this summer. It is scheduled to provide 63% of the new jobs planned for Thurrock up to 2020 and will be one of the largest container terminals in Europe and conslidate London as a major port. Whilst few jobs will be created in the docks, an extensive goods handling and associated business area is also planned for the site. The go ahead must mean the agreement has been reached on wider infrastructure improvements, especially to Junction 30 of the M25, but we await any announcements as to what has been agreed and also when work will start. However it is believed that the port developers (Dubai Ports) are keen to progress quickly. Thurrock TG Development Corp. continues to develop plans for the regeneration of the Thurrock area. After the port, Lakeside is the main employment area and a partner to develop major new leisure facilities in the area is being sought. Other developments being considered are the extension of further and higher education in the area, the redevelopment of Grays Town Centre (with an education focus) and how to distribute the unallocated new housing. Various housing options have been put out to public consultation but no final decision has been made. Basildon Renaissance. Masterplans have now been published for the Town Centres of Basildon, Laindon, Pitsea and Wickford. Laindon will be the first to be developed (in a years time), followed by Pitsea and Wickford (probably 3 years away) but the largest, Basildon at £1 billion, is unlikely to start for 5 years. Meanwhile a development partner has been agreed for the redevelopment of the Fryerns School site and the surrounding area and this work should be started in 2008. Consultation with the local community is in progress but a concern must be whether the development can generate enough revenue to make a significant difference to the existing area and overcome the social deprivation that exists. Other priorities are obtaining Teaching status for the hospital (it already has University status) and developing a Sporting Village in Gloucester Park. The TG Interim Plan proposes a Thames Gateway Parklands across the whole Gateway. Basildon has significant facilities which are being developed as part of the South Essex Green Grid (www.greengrid.co.uk) and, hopefully, eventually as part of the Parklands. Arguments are still continuing as to whether the Dry Lane site (near the Hospital) should be developed and development of the Gardiners Lane South area have been put back, probably 5 years, because of issues relating to access to the A127. One issue for Basildon is getting the right mix of housing. The perception of the town and the lack of executive housing means that most higher paid workers chose not to live in the area and it can be difficult to attract new businesses to the town. Renaissance Southend. Masterplans for Southend were published in May. The first project in the document is the proposal to establish a new St John’s Quarter. This would be an extension of the existing retail area to include St John’s Church and its churchyard at the heart of the area as a major new public space. Other plans include the extension of the educational offering in the centre of the town, the creation of a student village, relocation of leisure facilities into a new green area, a new green living and working area and the further development of the sea front. Living in a flood plain. Following the wettest summer for a long time and flooding in many parts of the country this has become a hot issue. Nationally 30% of new houses are built in areas at risk of flooding (compared with an average of 15% of all housing) Why is this? Should we be doing it? But people have to live somewhere! This is a major issue, especially as the Thames Gateway is an estuary. The options are not to build, build differently or in different places. But there are no easy answers and certainly to say “no building” is not the answer – especially when this is said by people who already own their own houses! (This is too big an issue to cover in this report but I shall be publishing an Occasional Paper in the next few months dealing with this issue – see below) Interested in the issues being raised in this Report? Why not read my Occasional Papers? Coming in the next few months: • 3 million new houses. Do we need them? • Have we learnt from our last New Town developments? • Flood Plains, Eco Living, Green Grid If you want them emailed to you as they are published please send me your address or you can find them on this web site:

 

How should Christians be involved?

We believe this to be God’s world. He created it and he cares about how we treat it. As God’s people we, as Christians, should understand this and from our studies and our relationship with God seek to understand what God might be saying to our society. We won’t always get it right. We are not perfect, but we have a calling to witness in every area of life – social issues, environment, economic, justice, etc.

Many Christians are already involved through their jobs or community commitments. We need to pray for wisdom and strength for all who are involved. We also need to be concerned about the issues that effect our communities. We should take an interest and be willing to, prayerfully, consider what is happening and speak out where possible. Sadly this will sometimes mean being unpopular when we have to challenge the accepted norms of our society or the selfish interests of our community. Particular areas where God’s words may be unpalitable concern our exploitation of the environment, lack of concern for the poor and marginalised and the protection of our own selfish interests over the greater good.

For some there will be the opportunity to be involved in the structures of our society as Councillors, representatives on Local Stratetic Partnerships (LSPs) or the sub regional and regional bodies, etc. There are Christian leaders on all 5 LSPs in South Essex as well as on the Southend Renaissance Board and the South Essex Thames Gateway Partnership Board. Please pray for these people and if you have opportunities in public life, consider what God may be saying to you about getting involved.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                                                                            

 

 

Text Box: If you wish to know more about the Church’s involvement in the Thames Gateway please contact The Revd. Steve Williams (Thames Gateway Officer for the Bradwell Episcopal Area, Diocese of Chelmsford) The Rectory, Thorndon Ave. West Horndon, Brentwood, CM13 3TR. Phone: (01277) 811223, Email: stevecgs@ukonline.co.uk

 

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