UP to 1,000 new homes could be created in Grays town centre under the government's initiative to build the country's way out of a post Covid-19 recession.

A number of infrastructure schemes in Thurrock have been given the green light after the government approved financial backing for projects nominated by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Across the whole of the south East region the partnership, which covers Thurock and an area encompassing other local authority areas of East Sussex, Essex and Kent, had been given £85 million of the Government's new Getting Building Fund to support economic recovery.

It says across the south east new projects will create more than 9,000 new jobs and safeguard a further 3,341, unlock new homes and commercial space, as well as new skills and training facilities.

One of the key projects that has been identified is the plan to regenerate Thurrock's Grays Shopping Centre which could include the creation of up to 1,000 new homes in the town centre.

Backers of the scheme, which has been granted £1,808,865 towards its infrastructure costs, say: "Grays shopping centre redevelopment forms an integral part of the wider town centre regeneration, set out in the Grays Town Centre Regeneration Framework.

"The proposed redevelopment will provide a smaller, more varied retail provision, with greater emphasis on community and leisure provision, as well as a new town square providing improved public realm and pedestrian permeability across the town centre, in line with Thurrock's ambition for regeneration.

"The proposals will provide up to 1,000 residential units supporting Thurrock Council's housing requirement in this central, sustainable location.

"This bid is for the electrical infrastructure costs associated with that new residential provision."

Converting business premises into homes

Thurrock will also get a share of a £1.2 million grant to help start up a scheme to convert long-term empty commercial properties back into use, for residential, alternative commercial or mixed-use purposes.

The successful bid proposal says: "The project will focus on secondary retail and other commercial premises which have been significantly impacted by the recent COVID lockdown, changing consumer demand or which may have been impacted by larger regeneration schemes."

Transport Institute plan for Grays campus

And £600,000 has been granted to create a Transport and Logistics Institute by converting part of the Grays town centre South Essex College campus.

The project, which will create ten jobs, is "to develop a state of the art Transport and Logistics Institute."

Backers say: "The new facility will provide a focus for logistics training in Thurrock which will enable more than 100 students per year to achieve training and future employment in this key local, regional and national sector. With courses from level 2 to level 5 for young people and adults wishing to retrain alongside upskilling existing staff in the increased use of automation in the logistics sector.

"This project will meet the identified skills needs in the area."