A vision for the future
a better environment health and community transport and infrastructure investment and development marketing and communications skills, learning and employment
FOREWORD THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX
“The regeneration of “The inclusion of South Thames Gateway is a Essex in the Thames national and regional Gateway gives us the priority. The Strategic opportunity to create Partnership that I chair something special in is working closely with South Essex. The partners across the Thames Gateway Gateway to deliver this initiative is not about objective. economic growth for its own sake, but improving the quality of life I am pleased to launch the Thames Gateway and range of opportunities for residents. It is South Essex Partnership with their to make the most of this opportunity that publication of “A Vision for the Future”. the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership I particularly welcome their commitment to has been formed. developing key opportunities in Basildon, Our ‘vision’ is to establish South Essex as a Southend and Thurrock and their emphasis focal point for major economic regeneration on community regeneration. and to draw in investment. This will increase The creation of the South Essex Partnership opportunities for local people, improve is an important step forward and I have housing and the local environment, provide every confidence that we shall be working new infrastructure and a better quality of closely together on delivering the Gateway life for everyone in South Essex. as one of the largest regeneration projects The arguments for the inclusion of South in Europe.” Essex in the Thames Gateway were always compelling. The award of Gateway status is a major step in the regeneration of South Essex, which has tremendous potential. We are determined to see this initiative Lord Falconer, Minister for Housing and succeed and make a real difference to the Planning and Chair of the Thames Gateway people who live in the area. Strategic Partnership We are ready to pick up the challenge. We are seeking to engage partners and to stimulate a wide-ranging debate on the issues and suggested solutions. It is our aim to develop a ‘vision’ into a positive and more detailed strategy for South Essex which can provide a clear framework for potential investors.”
Councillor Andy Smith, Leader of Thurrock Council and Chair of the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership
1 INTRODUCTION
This document sets out a vision for the future for Thames Gateway South Essex. It is an opportunity for driving forward regeneration and achieving growth and prosperity in South Essex as a key part of the Thames Gateway, now the national priority for regeneration.
Our overriding aim is to provide an To promote the strengths and diversity of improved quality of life for all the people of Thames Gateway South Essex, this approach South Essex and to allow the area to will be based on a framework participate, via the Thames Gateway of complementary visions for regeneration initiative, in the prosperity of the wider hubs centred upon Thurrock, Basildon and South East and East of England. Southend to secure:
To realise this opportunity, the Thames • Thurrock: as a world leading logistics hub Gateway South Essex Partnership has been and exemplar for community formed to: development, learning and enterprise for South Essex. • improve skills and employment opportunities across a range of economic • Basildon and Castle Point: as a business sectors, and promote a competitive hub for South Essex business environment by stimulating the creation of effective business support • Southend and Rochford: as a cultural and networks linked to research institutions intellectual hub and a higher education centre of excellence for South Essex • secure leading edge infrastructure, particularly improved and sustainable transport
• secure investment and site development to promote urban renaissance and provide employment opportunities
• create a high quality and sustainable urban and rural environment which enhances the natural assets of the area and harnesses features such as the River Thames
• improve the health and well-being of all communities throughout South Essex
• promote a high profile and positive image of Thames Gateway South Essex and market the opportunities in the area for investment and development
2 THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX
These three hubs will provide the main making better use of the river, clearing up focus for implementation of the whole the wirescape which spoils parts of South range of objectives aimed at bringing about Essex, and establishing links between the our vision. business community, research and higher education. Further opportunities for investment which would impact on South Essex as a whole As a first step, this vision has been prepared have a regional or national dimension. These to engage potential partners and to raise too must form part of our vision, because of awareness of Thames Gateway South Essex the scale of the additional resources they and the Thames Gateway South Essex would bring to South Essex. A Lower Thames Partnership. It is not at this stage a formal crossing is an example of such an consultation, but is intended to open the opportunity, as are the possibilities of debate about the sustainable revitalisation creating a major new port at Shell Haven, of South Essex.
3 CONTEXT
Thames Gateway is the UK Government’s top - and a European - priority for regeneration.
Thames Gateway covers a wide geographical extension of Thames Gateway into South area, spanning the boundaries of three Essex to include more of Thurrock, part of regional development agencies, for London Basildon (including Basildon New Town), the and those for the East and South East of boroughs of Castle Point and Southend-on- England. It includes the areas of 20 local Sea, and a small part of Rochford including authorities (either in whole or in part) in London Southend Airport. London, North Kent and South Essex. Thames Gateway South Essex lies within Thames Gateway South Essex is an extension the East of England. The vision fits of the original Thames Gateway which was together with the East of England regional designated by Government in 1995. New economic strategy and will be included Regional Planning Guidance for the South within revised sub-regional planning East, which was published by the guidance for Thames Gateway. Government in March 2001, confirmed the
The Thames Gateway
Stansted
Southend LONDON City Airport
Heathrow Manston
Dover Gatwick
4 KEY ISSUES THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX
There is an urgent need to identify priorities for Thames Gateway South Essex within Thames Gateway as a whole, having regard to:
• its position and relationship with London • a poor quality urban fringe which inhibits access to the countryside • the commonality of need for regeneration along the River Thames and its estuary • dominant overhead power lines and associated infrastructure • the shared past of declining industries • an under-performing economy and a low • similar problems associated with structural skills base. economic change. The Thames Gateway designation brings a The wider perception of Thames Gateway regional and national recognition of South Essex is: opportunity for regeneration and need for change. A radically enhanced image, a fresh • sprawling urban areas of undistinguished perception of the problems and design, with out-dated facilities opportunities, and environmental improvement are essential preconditions to • inadequate transport infrastructure in the process of change and regeneration. need of modernisation and improvement
• lack of awareness of the river and other environmental assets
Thames Gateway South Essex
Thames Gateway South Essex
Rochford Basildon
Southend
Castle Point
Thurrock
5 SKILLS, LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT
To improve skills and employment opportunities across a range of economic sectors, and promote a competitive business environment by stimulating the creation of effective business support networks linked to research institutions.
The South Essex economy has traditionally • fully addressing the need for basic and focused on the manufacturing and light higher skills for the unemployed, engineering sectors. Small businesses particularly striving for NVQ level 2 or account for over a third of all VAT equivalent attainment for all, promoting registrations in Essex. Recent job losses in the lifelong learning and new skills for the traditional industries have to some extent long-term unemployed been offset by new jobs in the leisure and retail sectors. South Essex accounts for fifty • harnessing the role of the community and percent of the unemployment in Essex and voluntary sector in developing skills, as there are pockets of severe unemployment THE KEY ISSUES in some wards, amongst the highest in the well as creating employment Thames Gateway. opportunities through community based businesses and social enterprises The focus needs to be on raising standards across all levels of education, skills and • encouraging greater business involvement training, through a real partnership between in training provision and ensuring that education and training providers, business, this leads to improvements in productivity the community and local authorities. • turning childcare into a business This will be achieved by:- opportunity, for employers and
• the development of centres of excellence employees, rather than a barrier to support business, linked to business • supporting and developing business clusters and developing a knowledge competitiveness in the area, thus based economy that meets the needs retaining much needed employment of business opportunities for local people, ensuring
• the promotion and development of higher that everything is done to education within South Essex, through support employers and nurturing greater links between further retain them within education, training, and business South Essex. organisations as well as ensuring university provision across the area
6 TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX
To secure leading edge infrastructure, particularly improved and sustainable transport.
The transport network in South Essex is This will be achieved by:- primarily based on east-west movement. The area is served by rail links from Central • identifying the future requirements for all London on two lines, and the A13 and A127. modes of transport within the context of The M25 cuts through the western end of South Essex and Thames Gateway the area, which is at present the only link with North Kent. The realigned A130 will • improving access within South Essex, provide an improved link to central Essex across the Thames Gateway, to London, and the A12 corridor. the wider regions and Europe
In general the transport network suffers • identifying and developing key from severe peak period congestion, with
THE KEY ISSUES interchanges within South Essex to ensure some of the most heavily-used non- effective integration of transport modes motorway roads and commuting lines in the region. Improvements to this network are of • promoting the development of seaport paramount importance to the success of South Essex, without which the economic and airport facilities potential of the area cannot be realised. • securing investment in the railways, Significant opportunities in port development at Tilbury and Shell Haven and including better links between existing expansion of air links at London Southend lines, as well as station improvements, Airport will provide catalysts for investment, service reliability and links to the strategic improving connections and employment. rail network, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and Crossrail There is a need to ensure that the area is
also well connected to the information and • improving all forms of sustainable communication technology network and transport, in particular bus services and basic services, such as an adequate power infrastructure, investigating rapid supply to meet demand, are maintained. transport options and assessing the potential of the River Thames as a major passenger and freight transport corridor
• developing state-of-the-art communications, signing and management systems and ensuring that the whole area is well connected for information and communication technology development by maximising the opportunity of the pan-European fibre optic network which passes through the Thames Gateway area.
7 INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
To secure investment and site development to promote urban renaissance and provide employment opportunities
No area can achieve sustainable growth • improving the ability for site land without proper use of its land. New assembly and innovative design of development land will be an increasingly new developments scarce resource and the emphasis will be on promoting the re-use of redundant land and • identifying a strategy for joint working on buildings. Thames Gateway and Thames common development ‘project themes’ Gateway South Essex have large tracts of across South Essex, such as regenerating brownfield land and bringing that, and the town centres and estate renewal redundant property, forward for development is a priority. • improving accessibility to sites, in
Major sites at Shell Haven, Shoeburyness, on particular by public transport, for freight
THE KEY ISSUES Canvey Island, within the Cranes Corridor in and in marginalised locations such as Basildon and in the town centres will act as Shoeburyness and Canvey Island catalysts for attracting the right kind of development which meets the objectives of • providing appropriate sites which can Thames Gateway South Essex. attract a more diverse range of business uses, from business parks, knowledge This will be achieved by:- based industries and major logistics centres to meeting the needs of • identifying and developing action plans small businesses through incubation for key catalyst developments within centre development South Essex and developing a spatial planning strategy allied to future • maximising the use of brownfield land Structure Plans, Unitary and Local Plans and land within the urban areas, and and Local Transport Plans providing adequate resources for site decontamination and reclamation. • developing an effective inward investment enquiry system that promotes all of South Essex
8 A BETTER ENVIRONMENT THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX
To create a high quality and sustainable urban and rural environment which enhances the natural assets of the area and harnesses features such as the River Thames
Whilst the main towns may be South Essex's • developing and implementing an action prominent feature, its setting along the plan to enhance the setting and north bank of the River Thames and the importance of the River Thames, including significant areas of important nature guidelines on new development conservation sites provide real opportunities for enhancing the environment. The • promoting sustainable development of protection of the nature reserves, the the highest quality and encouraging Thames Chase regional forest and the innovation in design extensive recreational use of the countryside support this. • safeguarding protected areas, in
THE KEY ISSUES The urban areas have expanded greatly in particular the foreshore, from the last century, with the development of development and introducing further new settlements and an industrial landscape. measures to enhance their value
Within this area some 460,000 people live • managing waste in a sustainable way and many more work, forming the largest which stops the importation of waste built-up area in the South East outside from London, restores landfill sites and London. The transport and infrastructure disposes of waste with minimal impact on links, particularly overhead power lines, are the environment and local people dominant features in some areas.
• maximising resources for the It is essential to improve and enhance the environment, while taking advantage of management and enhancement of regeneration opportunities. the environment
This will be achieved by:- • building on the success of Thames Chase to implement landscape • realising the area’s economic and improvements schemes, replace lost regeneration potential whilst woodland, trees and hedgerows and safeguarding its environmental assets and green the urban environment maximising recreational opportunities • identifying and implementing measures necessary to address flood prevention.
9 HEALTH AND COMMUNITY
To improve the health and well being of communities throughout Thames Gateway South Essex
South Essex contains a number of diverse • improving access to high quality health urban and rural communities with a wide and social care services, and in particular range of social and economic characteristics. recognising the needs of the elderly and Within it are some of the wealthiest wards supporting the voluntary sectors who care in Essex, side by side with some of the for them poorest, which includes wards amongst the ten percent most deprived in the country. • regenerating the most run-down estates This diversity, and the problems it creates, and ensuring improved housing for all, has been recognised through a wide range bridging the housing affordability gap, of national and EU funding for regeneration schemes in Southend, Basildon and and attracting essential health and Thurrock. Despite these characteristics, the education staff to the area
THE KEY ISSUES health of people in the area reflects the national picture. • reducing teenage pregnancies, supporting people with learning difficulties and The demographics show higher than average mental health problems and promoting levels of under 30-year-olds and over healthy living for all 65-year-olds, highlighting a significant age gap. The housing affordability gap, estate • raising education attainment renewal and regeneration, are now key throughout the area, including people priorities to be addressed. Good quality with special needs urban regeneration will result in good quality housing in more attractive settings, • reducing crime and disorder enabling local people to be more involved in
their local communities. • improving the cultural, leisure and recreational facilities and opportunities This will be achieved by:- for all in South Essex. • greater partnership working, including information sharing, between agencies engaging with and involving all of the community, which recognises that all areas have issues which must be addressed, not just the most deprived
10 MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX
To promote a high profile and positive image of Thames Gateway South Essex and market the opportunities of the area for investment and development
One of the key purposes of Thames Gateway • developing a long term and sustainable is to address the economic imbalance marketing strategy which is adaptable to between areas to the west of London, such changes in priorities for South Essex as the Thames Valley, and the east. The opportunities within Thames Gateway for • promoting the key objectives of Thames investment, business development and Gateway and also the visions for the attracting and retaining skilled workers are regeneration hubs within South Essex ready to be promoted.
• fostering links with other parts of Thames Within South Essex there is a diverse Gateway to present a coherent Thames community. Creating a sense of identity for
THE KEY ISSUES the area will be crucial, but this must Gateway message recognise that individuals may associate with • promoting participation of partners in their local towns or neighbourhood more than with a generic sub-region. Thames Gateway activities
In our marketing and communications we • improving communication between the will make maximum use of new technologies partners including the development of a as well as more traditional techniques. Thames Gateway South Essex internet and intranet. This will be achieved by:-
• developing and promoting the opportunities within South Essex to address the imbalance between the economies of east and west London
• promoting Thames Gateway within South Essex and South Essex within Thames Gateway, nationally and internationally
11 A VISION FOR SOUTH ESSEX The development of a core vision is seen as essential if the future vision for Thames Gateway South Essex is to be more than an aggregate of different partners’ particular aspirations.
This will enable the members of the GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS partnership to take decisions about the Throughout all of Thames Gateway South priority of particular projects and how Essex there are common goals. resources are to be sought and spent. Such These include:- a vision has to be flexible and, realistically, be long term. It should also have sufficient • to make South Essex an attractive place to coherence to provide the basis for the live and work, which is affordable, safe, development of a firm framework against healthy and clean which projects can be assessed and to provide a clear and attractive picture for the • to become a centre of excellence for wider public and investors. technological research and Our vision for Thames Gateway South Essex development, futures development, is broad based and of necessity covers a wide expertise and skilling, building on range of activities. The specific geographic existing business clusters such as ‘hubs’ will provide a local focus for automotive and medical research regeneration, helping to establish linkages between the various projects and initiatives • to be a flagship ecological and being undertaken and thus increasing their environmental community, specialising effectiveness. Change will not occur without in sustainable new technologies the creation of a critical mass in favour of and development beneficial change. The resources available through the various programmes and • to make South Essex the place where partners involved in this approach together businesses will look to first for will have considerable impact. investment, and promote the development of local businesses
• to break down the barriers to opportunity caused by inequality
• to promote urban and social renaissance in South Essex through intelligent and targeted investment, and investment in local communities.
12 THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX
The key objectives for Thames Gateway • to develop a leading business support South Essex will be supported by specific centre in Basildon to serve all of South objectives for each of the three ‘hubs’:- Essex, both new and existing businesses
A VISION FOR THURROCK • to improve the local transportation • to build on our reputation as an exemplar network, in particular access to and from for community development, learning Canvey Island and along commuting and enterprise, raising aspiration, routes into Basildon, including better confidence and skills through lifelong rail links. learning and quality employment A VISION FOR SOUTHEND AND ROCHFORD opportunities for all • To transform Southend into a thriving • to support a sustainable European cultural hub for South Essex, by logistics industry, underpinned by a developing its cultural strategy, beach multi-modal transport system, and facilities, resort and tourism facilities and supported by a centre of excellence for leisure attractions, and the overall the wider community environmental quality of Southend and its environs • to develop a world port at Shell Haven and Tilbury, connecting London and • to develop university facilities, expanding South Essex to Europe and the world’s upon the new Southend town centre trading centres. campus to provide a sustainable and accessible facility for South Essex A VISION FOR BASILDON AND CASTLE POINT
• to make Basildon and Castle Point the • to improve the accessibility of Southend centre of business excellence in South and Rochford by improving surface access, Essex supported by excellent by road and rail, and upgrading London infrastructure, skills, training and Southend Airport to support stronger education, and quality business business links with Europe. environments and facilities
13 MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES Linked to our vision for regeneration focused on the three hubs, there are a number of major opportunities for change and improvement in Thames Gateway South Essex.
These are opportunities of such significance from port development needs to be assessed that they would ripple out right across South as well as the impact accompanying Essex and beyond. These opportunities commercial development in the area could would draw in substantial public and private have on surrounding town centres. investment, without which real improvement That said, however, it ranks as a potential will not be possible. Our vision for Thames major opportunity for investment in Thames Gateway South Essex seeks to achieve Gateway South Essex, and a source of highly sustainable economic growth as a means skilled logistics employment. towards improving the general quality of life in the area. The various major opportunities THE RIVER need to be assessed in terms of the overall The River Thames is an attractive benefits which they could generate. environmental feature for all parts of the Thames Gateway. Existing links to Europe LOWER THAMES CROSSING could be further enhanced via passenger and The river is a major barrier to goods terminals and the international cruise communications within Thames Gateway liner facility at Tilbury. With increased and to north-south inter-regional links east affluence could come greater demand for of London. As a location for improving nautical activity. The river should represent transport links it presents a number of a main thrust for environmental opportunities. Proximity to Europe and links improvement, including dealing with global with it are an asset and could be combined environmental issues. with more ‘local’ improvements within Thames Gateway and Thames Gateway South Essex. A Lower Thames crossing has the potential to be a major opportunity, and the optimum location needs to be identified. It would bring considerable benefits to South Essex, including environmental improvements, but would also certainly require rigorous environmental assessment.
SHELL HAVEN The proposals for Shell Haven have the potential to improve the competitiveness of Thames Gateway South Essex in import/export terms. The spin-off benefit in terms of jobs
14 THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX
WIRESCAPE The development of the research and Pylons cross much of Thames Gateway South development base in relation to major Essex and the moment has come to make a automotive, medical and defence research serious assault on this issue. As higher value establishments in the area must be part of is created in the area it will be possible to such a strategy, with links to higher channel greater private sector investment education. Links between business and into such improvements. universities are key to successful economies. There is a need to develop such a network in BUSINESS, RESEARCH AND Thames Gateway South Essex and to seek HIGHER EDUCATION full university status for the university Improvements in the transport infrastructure at Southend. and the environment, including links to Europe, will benefit the economy of South Essex. There is no doubt that the area, with improved north and south links connecting to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, and improved air and maritime links, is particularly well placed to occupy a pivotal position in Europe. But occupying a pivotal role in a business sense must go further and deeper into the local economy and exploit the dynamic characteristics of the local economy and workforce.
15 THE WAY FORWARD...
Following the launch of the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership on September 26 2001, the vision document will be used to help develop a shared vision for Thames Gateway South Essex, to engage partners and generate progress, and to stimulate a wider debate of the issues and suggested solutions.
It highlights the key At this stage we are still developing ideas for sectors in which activity the delivery of the vision and we would like is required and should to encourage your views either as a be capable of acting as potential partner, an organisation, a business a basis for seeking or as a local resident. funds. It will be able to The inclusion of South Essex in the Thames inform local, regional Gateway area is a major achievement. It is and sub-regional important that we work together to take strategies and act as a advantage of this opportunity. framework for the delivery of local initiatives. It will link Thames Gateway South Write to me at the address below to let Essex with the longer established areas of me know your views and how you would Thames Gateway in North Kent and London. like to become involved in the regeneration of South Essex. I look Thames Gateway South Essex offers us all a forward to hearing from you. great opportunity to regenerate and revitalise South Essex.
It will help us improve the quality of life for everyone who lives and works in South Essex - through better employment opportunities; Mary Spence an improved environment and Chief Executive infrastructure; better housing and health; Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership and increased cultural and leisure activities. The Basildon Centre This document sets out the Thames Gateway St Martin‘s Square South Essex Partnership’s vision for this major Basildon regeneration area. It highlights key areas for Essex SS14 1DL action and we hope there will be a wider debate of the opportunities and issues.
Thames Gateway South Essex offers us all a great opportunity to regenerate and “revitalise South Essex. ” 16 The Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership has been formed to develop a vision and implement a regeneration strategy for Thames Gateway South Essex.
The Partnership will provide a focal point for dialogue with Government, national, regional and other local organisations which can contribute to economic regeneration.
It will champion the area’s interests and act as a conduit for funding and investment. It aims to adopt an inclusive approach and to encourage partnership working and will seek to inform and consult widely.
The Partnership Board will have overall responsibility for taking the vision forward with a broadly-based membership with representation from the public, private, education and voluntary sectors. The current members of the Board are:
Councillor Andy Smith (Chair) Councillor Ron Williams CBE Leader of Thurrock Council Essex County Council
Councillor John Potter Mr Peter Rainbird CBE DL Leader of Basildon District Council Chair, Essex Economic Partnership Limited
Councillor Dave Wells Councillor Mrs Jeannette Helson Leader of Castle Point Borough Council Rochford District Council
Mr Alan Cherry MBE Councillor Charles Latham Board Member, Leader of Southend Borough Council East of England Development Agency Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership The Basildon Centre • St Martin‘s Square Basildon • Essex • SS14 1DL
Tel: 01268 294776 • Fax: 01268 294777 Email: [email protected] • www.thamesgatewaysouthessex.com