Ambitious plans for the regeneration of Purfleet in Essex will go-ahead after Thurrock Council signed a development agreement with its builder.

Purfleet Centre Regeneration Ltd is set to build 2,500 homes, 600,000ft2 film and television studios, a new primary school, a new health centre, new shops, removing the level crossing and a brand new railway station.

Cllr Kent said: “There has been an unbelievable amount of work which has gone into creating these plans both by the council and PCRL and their partners.

“This is a really exciting time and over the next few years we will see Purfleet emerge as a wonderful new town centre with top-quality modern facilities.

“We have seen the new jobs being created at London Gateway and the Port of Tilbury; we have seen real improvements to Grays; we will see major and exciting changes at Lakeside and at the Thames Enterprise Park and, of course, we have created a thriving cultural hub at High House in Purfleet and now we can start setting out the timeline for bringing change to the rest of Purfleet.”

The council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, Cllr Richard Speight, added: “The development agreement has now been signed by all the parties, the legal processes are over and over 2016 we will see all the planning applications coming through and some remedial work being carried out.”

Ken Dytor, managing director of Urban Catalyst and joint founder of PCRL added: “Our number one focus is on creating a genuinely accessible and life-changing scheme, providing affordable homes for families and a mix of uses in a true sustainable environment.”