Purfleet-on-Thames has received a £75m funding boost from Homes England to support the £1bn regeneration of its town centre. The £75m has been secured from the government housing agency’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), which will help deliver necessary infrastructure to unlock 2,850 new homes

The housing forms a key part of Purfleet’s £1bn regeneration masterplan, approved in December 2019, that includes a new town centre, rail station and media village alongside health and educational facilities

HIF bid proposals were submitted to Homes England in 2018 by Thurrock Council in conjunction with development partner Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited, a joint venture between Swan Housing Association and developer Urban Catalyst. 

The funding will be used by PCRL to pay for key infrastructure provision in the early phases of development, including new roads and a pedestrian and vehicular bridge over the railway line. This will allow the existing level crossing to be closed and an upgraded railway station to be delivered.

The funding will also support land acquisition, remediation and site preparation works.

Work has now started on the HIF-funded infrastructure preparatory work. The main infrastructure works will commence in February 2021 and will continue for approximately three years. 

Sir Tim Laurence, chairman of PCRL, said: "The HIF funding is a major milestone in the regeneration of Purfleet-on-Thames. It will allow us to upgrade the town’s transport links and pave the way for us to deliver thousands of new high quality homes. We look forward to starting on-site with the infrastructure works in 2021 and moving one step closer to realising our vision for a greener, healthier and safer Purfleet-on-Thames.”

Sophie White, Homes England’s director of infrastructure grants, said: “We are committed to working with ambitious local authority partners seeking to meet their local housing needs through delivery of key infrastructure.  Our multimillion-pound funding in the Purfleet-on-Thames scheme will help to address the complex infrastructure requirements and constraints associated with the development. This will in turn help unlock the housing sites and allow the council and its development partner PCRL to deliver their vision for the town centre and much needed housing growth."