Bosses of a south Essex shopping centre are urging residents to share their views on plans to re-imagine a town centre.

NewRiver, the owner of Grays Shopping Centre, has huge plans for the future of the shopping centre and wider Grays town centre.

Key features of the proposals include a reimagined retail space including new food and drink and leisure uses, new homes in the town centre, new public open spaces and public and private green infrastructure.

Their engagement process began in 2020 but was put on hold during the pandemic.

This has involved community events as well as detailed conversations with stakeholder groups.

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Feedback gained over the course of the past few months has helped to inform the initial proposals for re-imagining the future of Grays.

These outline ideas will be shared with the community on June 14 to shape more detailed plans later this year. 

Justin Thomas, director of development at NewRiver, commented: “This is a key part of the process in re-imagining the future of Grays, and we have been engaging with members of the community to develop a vision that aligns with what we have heard from these important conversations.

“Our initial ideas are shaped around a more user-friendly town centre, retaining its strong identity and adding a welcoming environment with green public space, to create a vibrant and reinvigorated heart to the town centre that offers something for everyone in the community.

“We look forward to continuing our conversations with the community on 14 June, and thereafter as the plans are developed in more detail.”

Members of the project and design team will be at Grays Shopping Centre Break Bar on Tuesday, June 14, from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

For those unable to attend, the boards will be available to view on NRR.co.uk/development/futuregrays.

The project team will be receiving written feedback until June 30.