A PLANNING application has been submitted to Thurrock Council for a new rail station in Purfleet-on-Thames.

It has been put forward by Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL), the group behind the long-running, ambitious and sometimes controversial project to regenerate the town which includes building 2,850 homes.

PCRL first put forward its billion pound plans in 2016, publishing its first 'masterplan' in December the following year. Two years later the company won outline planning permission for its over-arching plans, which Thurrock Nub News had reported on in May 2020.

Later that year borough MP Jackie Doyle-Price who has been a consistent critic of the way the Purfleet project was conceived and managed delivered a withering commentary of its performance, its management and of the input of Thurrock Council - describing its officers as having 'staggering ineptitude'.

She said: "It is now four years since I said I had no confidence in Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited to deliver the regeneration of Purfleet. It is barely any further forward since then."

Condemning the lack of progress she added: "The people of Thurrock are becoming very cynical about the promises made to them. None of us want to be embarrassed by failure to deliver what we have promised.

However, her words failed to fuel a change of impetus and the project has dawdled along.

Progress has been slow and to date all that has been delivered in real terms is a small estate of news homes, currently under construction on the site of the former Cromwell House. It features 61 two, three and four bedroom homes close to the railway station. Work started in March 2021.

There is also considerable concern that the whole scheme may flounder. Swan Housing Association was a major partner in PCRL it got into significant financial difficulties and recently merged with Sanctuary Housing which is yet to confirm that its commitment to the scheme will be honoured.

Where the station will sit in 'new look' Purfleet-on-Thames

Detailed plans for the new rail station have now been validated by Thurrock Council after being submitted in April. It is likley they will go before the council's planning committee some time later this year.

The plans include a replacement railway station with a ticket office, station footbridge, office space along platform canopies and pedestrian and cycle access.

The footbridge will form the main access to the station which will be built as two blocks adjacent to two platforms

The station ticket office and staff accommodation will be located on the concourse along with the ticket office, staff rooms and toilets with direct access to the concourse.

The new railway station will replace the existing Purfleet station and will be owned by Network Rail with passenger services operated by C2C.