THURROCk Council has committed to spend almost £3.5 million on consultancy services as it prepares an area of land in West Thurrock to accommodate businesses moved out by regeneration plans.

Bringing in experts appears to be a response to criticism of the authority's own abilities to deliver projects - last week Thurrock Nub News exclusively revealed the council was spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on consultants to help bring those botched schemes back on track.

The billion pound scheme to regenerate Purfleet has still to really get off the starting blocks in terms of putting shovels in the ground but to ensure continuity of displaced businesses the council has commissioned Ove Arup & Partners on a five year contract.

The London-based firm of designers, planners, engineers, architects, consultants and technical specialists works globally and says its aim is to meet complex challenges – "turning exciting ideas into tangible reality."

One of those ideas is Navigator Park on Oliver Road, West Thurrock.

Cllr Mark Coxshall, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, explained why the council need to bring in outside help.

He said: "Work is being carried out to ensure that existing businesses can "lift and shift" location that are affected by the regeneration of Purfleet-on-Thames and those businesses who are now left in new residential areas are able to continue operating in Thurrock.

"Oliver Road (Navigator Park) Industrial Development will provide the potential for new locations for affected businesses.

The contract is for design development and construction management, as part of the overall delivery and construction cost for the scheme.

"Providing good quality alternative workspace to support businesses is a key element of the council's regeneration and economic growth strategy.

"These strategies have identified the need to strengthen, create opportunities for local people, recognise the importance of good quality, sustainable and flexible sites and premises as a key driver for economic growth and development."

Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL), in partnership with Thurrock Council, is the organisation created to deliver the regeneration project that the council hopes will transform Purfleet-on-Thames into "a desirable riverside destination."

This means building a new town centre, thousands of new homes and moving some of the town's industries to new locations.

The Purfleet project, which has been several years in the making has not been without its critics – though the scheme has been granted outline planning permission by the council's own planning committee.

Borough MP Jackie Doyle-Price has been a vocal critic of the project and Thurrock Council's ability to manage the project. In June this year she laid down a challenge to the council to 'get its house in order'.

Previously she had spoken of the 'staggering ineptitude' of the council's in house skills and ability to bring the Purfleet project to fruition.

In the wake of last week's story about the A13 and Stanford station project, Thurrock Nubs News has now come up against something of a wall of silence about the involvement of consultants Mace Ltd.

We contacted the company last week and were promised a response about what they would be doing by last Friday (21 August). The company then delayed that statement, saying it would be delivered on Monday (24th) after they had 'consulted with their clients' but despite several requests since, nothing has been forthcoming.

The council has been equally tight-lipped - declining so far to give any further information about why they chose to bring in consultants after its own senior officers publicly declared the projects were back on track and on revised budgets - with no mention of the expert help being brought in at a total cost approaching three-quarters of a million pounds.