Regeneration could take up to 40 years (From Echo)

Regeneration could take up to 40 years

1:00pm Thursday 5th November 2009 in

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RADICAL plans to transform the face of south Essex could take up to 40 years to achieve, it has been revealed.

The Thames Gateway blueprint aims to transform the area into one of the key economic zones of Europe.

Last year, bosses mapped out a 20-year-plan for the region, which includes East London and north Kent.

But speaking at the annual Thames Gateway Forum, at the O2 Arena, in London, leading architect Sir Terry Farrell said plans to boost transport and education may take the next four decades.

Other proposals plan to reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent, regenerate towns and create a “Parklands” national park, across the Thames estuary Sir Terry was commissioned, after last year’s forum, to “refresh” the whole scheme.

Yesterday, he revealed his new plan includes very early proposals for: l Linking both Southend and London City airports to a national rail network, using high-speed rail l Making Southend a centre of manufacturing excellence for the aerospace industry l Connecting Tilbury Port and the proposed Shellhaven superport to a national and European freight rail system l Investment in improvements to the c2c and National Express East Anglia train lines into London Yet there was no detail on costs involved, or timescales.

However, Sir Terry estimated the region would produce an extra £12billion towards the UK’s economy by 2020, through new ports and manufacturing.

Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, said the recession had affected the speed of delivery, but the plans were “resilient”.

He said: “In order to maintain the momentum of a programme as significant as Thames Gateway, there is a need to keep reviewing and refreshing the vision.”

At last year’s forum, then Thames Gateway minister, Margaret Beckett, said the multibillion-pound regeneration plans could still be achieved, despite the recession.

This was as she announced £9.6billion of Government investment, including £800million to create six new super colleges, including one at Basildon, which has since been scrapped because the cash was not available.

Yesterday, there were no cash announcements or details of imminent new projects.

Communities minister, Shahid Malik, described the recession as a “serious blip”.

He also said Mr Farrell’s plans were not concrete and the Government still hoped to achieve some of its promises within 20 years.

He said: “It depends who you speak to. Some of the longer-term visions are over 75 years.

“We asked Sir Terry to come up with a vision and will have to take it into account.

“But some projects will take shape over the next 12 months to two years.”