1 Introduction

WHAT IS THIS CONSULTATION ABOUT? CONSULTATION PROGRAMME We are consulting on the draft of the Grays The consultation takes place from 21 January until Town Centre Framework. This is a plan for the 9 February. In this period, an exhibition will be displayed enhancement and improvement of Grays town centre at the following locations around Grays town centre over the next 15 - 20 years. during public opening hours: After discussions with residents and businesses, the ••Grays Library, 21 January to 26 January WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS! Council adopted a regeneration vision for Grays. The Grays Town Centre Framework sets out how this vision ••Civic Offices, 27 January to 4 February We want to hear your views on our proposals for can be realised. ••Grays Shopping Centre, 5 February to 6 February the Town Centre and Grays Riverside and obtain feedback from you on our draft Grays Town Centre ••South Essex College, 8 February to 9 February Framework. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Please let us have your feedback today. Come and talk to us about the proposals at: The feedback that we receive will inform the revision of the Grays Town Centre Framework. When complete, the ••Grays Library, 21 January, 10am to 2pm Framework will be recommended for adoption by the PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS elected members of Thurrock Council. This is scheduled ••Civic Offices, 28 January, 2pm to 5pm Please fill in the comment form, which is available for Spring 2016. ••Grays Shopping Centre, 5 February, midday to 4pm at today’s exhibition. You can post it in the feedback The document will then be used to guide the Council’s ••Grays Shopping Centre, 6 February, midday to 4pm box or send it to the address on the questionnaire. work to implement the vision. It will also be used as You can also submit your comments online. a material consideration when determining planning ••South Essex College, 8 February, midday to 4pm applications. The boards together with the questions are available During the consultation we will also be speaking with online on the website: landowners, businesses and community representatives. https://thurrock.gov.uk/graysfuture

1. Grays Shopping Centre 2. Morrisons Supermarket 3. State Cinema 10 9 4. Railway Station 5. Bus Station 6. Orsett Road 7. Thameside Centre 8. Grays Town Park 9. Titan Works 10. Hogg Lane 7 11. London Road 6 12. Former gasworks 8 13. Crown Road 14. Grays Parish Church 15. South Essex College 3 12 2 16 Civic Centre 11 17. Grays Town Wharf 1 11 18. Seabrook Rise Estate 5 4 13 19. Kilverts Field 20. Thurrock Yacht Club 14 16 21. Nursery 22. Grays Beach Riverside Park 23. Argent Street 15 24. Curzon Drive Industrial Estate 18 25. Tilbury Docks 26. River Thames

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25 LOCATION PLAN & FRAMEWORK AREA IMAGERY@2015 GOOGLE

Grays Town Centre Framework Public Consultation January / February 2016 2 Opportunities Constraints

Flood risk Traffic dominated walking environment A thriving market town

An under exploited waterfront

Orsett Road one way system

The level crossing

Heritage assets

An expanding South Essex College Poor arrival experience Over-engineered infrastructure

The Vision

The Council worked with residents and businesses to and entertain a diverse and vibrant population develop a vision vision for Grays: through the evening. “Building on its strengths as a Chartered Market Cafés, bars, restaurants, shops and markets will Town, Grays will be an exciting, high quality combine with culture, entertainment and events destination for people to live, work, learn, shop in unique venues to provide a safe and attractive and socialise. Reconnected to the River Thames, place for communities to meet and businesses to Grays will support growing resident, student thrive.” and business communities throughout the day

1. 2. 3. 4. BUILDING A LOCAL MAKE IT EASIER TO ENHANCING THE SUPPORTING ECONOMY TRAVEL INTO AND MOVE QUALITY OF THE PUBLIC THURROCK’S AROUND THE TOWN REALM COMMUNITIES CENTRE

Grays Town Centre Framework Public Consultation January / February 2016 FRAMEWORK The Framework is based on a thorough Overall Framework understanding of the town centre, its 3 issues and opportunities and the vision established with residents and businesses in 2013. The Framework sets out how Grays town CONCEPT PLAN Hogg Lane centre can be enhanced and improved. It identifies opportunities for new development, the improvement of the public realm, and the establishment of new connections, public spaces and gateways. Orsett Rd The Framework will provide guidance for

Grays Town Park private developers. It will further set the context for the use of Council assets (such as development sites) to support more expensive projects such as the underpass

Clarence Rd and a new theatre.

Morrisons Development in Grays town centre has the potential to deliver the following:

London Rd Grays Shopping Centre ••New homes; ••New shops and restaurants; Aldi Grays Station ••Employment opportunities; ••Evening economy;

Thurrock ••Enhanced railway station; Council ••Re-establishing the connection between the

H Argent St town and the riverfront;

South Essex ••A new visitor destination at the riverfront; College ••Extension of South East College; ••Potential for student accomodation; and

Grays Town Wharf ••An attractive new riverside for Grays.

Kilverts Field Thames Rd

O R S E T River Thames T

Thurrock Yacht R Club Visitor Venue O Grays Beach

Park A D Play Area

CHARACTER AREAS CLARENCE E RO H A T D FIVE CHARACTER AREAS HO D & GG Q A LA U O N R E A The Framework identifies five distinct areas: N R O T TOWN CENTRE & STATION QUARTER D E N R

The urban heart of Grays Town Centre, which will O provide its main leisure and retail focus. L

GRAYS RIVERSIDE A major opportunity to establish an attractive and lively riverfront for Grays.

ORSETT ROAD GRA An enhanced location for smaller, independent and specialist YS R retailers, local convenience shops, cafes and restaurants. IV ER S ID ATION Q E LONDON ROAD & HOGG LANE ST UA & RT A lively residential hinterland to the town centre, that reconnects E E R R the centre with existing neighbourhoods to the west. T N E C THE CLARENCE ROAD QUARTER N Repairing and enhancing the historic fabric to create an W

attractive inner residential neighbourhood. O T

Grays Town Centre Framework Public Consultation January / February 2016 Town Centre & Station Quarter A 4 NTS ND A C R A EPLACE U FE O R LE UALITY PU A S T VE Q B T SS L LI S A C C E P R “The urban heart of Grays R R R O E E S A D S town centre, which will W L I N M E N

U G N provide its main leisure and retail focus”

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ARTIST ILLUSTRATION OF THE NEW STATION QUARTER CONCEPT PLAN TOWN CENTRE AND STATION QUARTER SUMMARY KEY PRINCIPLES

Heights, layout and Development The opening of the South Essex College and Uses built form Opportunities the proposed development around the station ••Heights of 4-5 storeys ••Mixed use and underpass will shift the centre of gravity in ••Core shopping area; ••Better cycling facilities; overlooking the public developments on Grays town centre to the south. ••Convenience shops and and services around spaces; ••Improved access to either side of the the station; ••Development should town centre car parks. station to facilitate The town centre core contains the Grays the development of ••Higher quality food respond sensitively to Shopping Centre, the Morrisons Supermarket, the underpass and store; listed buildings and their a planned new Wetherspoons Pub in the State setting, most notably associated public ••Restaurants Public realm and Cinema, the railway and bus stations, the South to the Grade II listed spaces; overlooking Grays open spaces Essex College and the Civic Offices. Grays Parish Church ••Potential to redevelop Parish Church; ••A series of linked and the State Cinema. the former Post Office public spaces from The proposed underpass at the station and ••Revival of the building on George the War Memorial, associated mixed use developments offer a State Cinema as a Street; major opportunity for Grays. Two new gateway Wetherspoon Pub; Transport and two squares with the underpass, the square ••Mixed use development spaces at the station will establish a welcoming ••Encourage longer Movement at the College, and the at the corner of the arrival experience and help enhance the image opening times; and ••Creation of new space at Grays Wharf; High Street and New of Grays. ••Enhanced street underpass to Road; and ••Enhancement to market with an conveniently link both parts of the High the public realm ••Mixed use development The underpass creates a seamless connection expanded offer. Street; throughout the town on the site to the south and overcomes the severance of the railway centre. of Grays Parish Church. line. New shops, cafes and restaurants will ••Better bus rail create an attractive focus around the station for interchange; residents, commuters, visitors and students.

Grays Town Centre Framework Public Consultation January / February 2016 NT IMPRO RO VE Other Town PF M O E H N S T S Centre Areas CONCEPT PLAN 5 ORSETT ROAD ORSETT ROAD Orsett Road is an important affordable location for smaller and independent businesses in the town centre. It provides convenience stores, specialist shops and services, but also cafes, restaurants and takeaways. A combination of traffic changes, public realm and shopfront improvements should transform Orsett Road into a pleasant street that is attractive and safe for pedestrian and cyclists, yet also provides short term parking to support passing trade. In December 2015 the Council’s Cabinet Meeting approved a long term aspiration to develop a new theatre in Grays with flexible space suited to a range of uses. It was agreed that the existing facilitates in the Thameside would OVEMEN PR TS be retained until an alternative was available, if a new theatre is built on an IM M alternative site L A E KEY PRINCIPLES R

C ••Shopfront improvements are proposed to uncover the charm of the historic I

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parade of shops and deliver a coherent design approach to the street scene; B U

••Reintroducing two way working, the provision of short term parking and an P improved pedestrian environment should enhance visibility and passing trade and support the continuing vitality of this street.

LONDON ROAD AND HOGG LANE The area to the west of Grays town centre is very fragmented and dominated by road infrastructure. It includes a number of sites that could be developed with housing. New development should help to reconnect the town centre with residential areas along London Road and in Badgers Dene and establish a street based environment that feels friendly and safe. Two welcoming gateways should be established at the London Road and Hogg Lane entrances into the town centre. KEY PRINCIPLES ••Resist the loss of employment unless reprovided as part of EL DEV OPM development; AL EN TI T ••Simplify and reduce footprint of junctions at London Road N E and Hogg Lane to release land for development and establish D I S attractive gateways into the town centre; E

R ••Enhancement of the pedestrian and cycling routes on London

W Road, Maidstone Road and Hogg Lane; and E

N ••Establishment of a better pedestrian CONCEPT PLAN LONDON ROAD AND MENT connection between Quarry Hill LOP HOGG LANE TOWN CENTRE VE and Hogg Lane. E D L L I F

N I THE CLARENCE ROAD QUARTER The traditional housing area to the east of the town centre has suffered from the impact of road infrastructure and the one-way system. The opening of Orsett Road for two-way traffic and other public realm interventions will provide major improvements to the environment within this area and strengthen its character. Grays Town Park will be better connected in the town centre.

KEY PRINCIPLES

••Better pedestrian and cycling facilities on Derby Road, Clarence Road and Stanley Road and other junctions; ROVEMEN ••Better signage and easier access into Grays Town Park; P TS IM ••Re-development of vacant corner plots on Clarence Road, M L aswell as on Stanley Road and Derby Road, these plots A E R could potentially be attractive for self-build housing; and

C ••Potential to develop the Crown Road car park for housing if I L

it becomes surplus to requirement. B

U CONCEPT PLAN CLARENCE P ROAD QUARTER

Grays Town Centre Framework Public Consultation January / February 2016 CONCEPT PLAN GRAYS RIVERSIDE 6 Grays Riverside

High Street

Link with South Essex College

Argent Street T O MEN VER P LO LO O E K V I E N D G

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Kilverts Field A

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Kiosk Thames Road

Pier Beach Promenade Wharf

Car Parking

Grays Pier Expanded Yacht Club Nursery Park Lane

Potential Theatre

Grays Beach Park

Riverside Plaza E RIVERSID TH E Play Area T PL A A Z G A N I ? T IER A P E S

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A THE V ING IEW Y T JO O N T ARTIST ILLUSTRATION OF GRAYS RIVERSIDE E H E

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SUMMARY KEY PRINCIPLES E

Grays Riverside offers a major opportunity to establish an Uses P A

attractive and lively riverfront for Grays. ••Thameside theatre with a C S Kilverts Field and Grays Beach Park should be joined restaurant and cafe; D A N together to form a new riverside park. An attractive ••Apartments overlooking the T A T L riverfront promenade should be established that offers Riverside Park and Grays R E A S C R fantastic views and provides access to the water wher Town Wharf; “A major opportunity to TI E VE DIV possible and safe. ••Extension to the South establish an attractive and AND A new visitor destination should be established that attracts Essex College; and lively riverfront for Grays.” people to the riverside and brings life and animation to Grays ••Retention and enhancement riverfront. This could be the reprovided Thameside theatre, of the Yacht Club. Transport and Movement together with a restaurant, cafe and community facilities. The Public Realm and Open ••New lane to link Thames Spaces building should be truly special and become a new landmark Heights, layout and Road with Manor Way; for Grays. built form ••Creation of a riverside ••Shorter and more discreet promenade and waterfront ••4-6 storeys; New housing developments around the park should access lane to the Yacht space; overlook and animate the open space and help create an ••Development at the bottom Club; ••Establishment of a attractive waterfront for Grays. end of the High Street ••Potential new pier on connected Riverside Park; should be a maximum of The proposed new pier supports the establishment of river the riverfront to enable and 4 storeys. bus services with the Paramount Entertainment Park on the waterside access to Grays ••Enhancement to the Town Swanscombe Peninsula and could become a significant new by ferries, river taxis and Wharf Square at the bottom waterfront attraction. pleasure boats. of the High Street.

Grays Town Centre Framework Public Consultation January / February 2016