Millions winging their way to Gateway

8:54am Tuesday 5th August 2003

The injection of £1 billion into Thames Gateway brought the dream to build 120,000 homes in 13 years one step closer. Senior reporter LUCY BRINICOMBE found out where the money will be going and what projects are envisaged to build new sustainable communities along the banks of the River Thames ...

PRIME Minister Tony Blair paid a flying visit to a new residential development in Greenhithe as his deputy, John Prescott, announced Government funding of £1 billion to develop the Thames Gateway.

Mr Prescott said the package, which was announced at Ingress Park, off London Road, will build 120,000 new homes and generate 180,000 jobs in the Gateway by 2016.

Over the next three years the Government expects its £330 million initial funding will attract up to £2 billion in private investment to help develop the stretch of brownfield sites along the River Thames.

Thamesmead and Belevedere are set to be key areas for housing development and new jobs in south east London, with £42 million earmarked for Greenwich, Woolwich and Thamesmead.

Up to £54 million of the Government’s package is earmarked for the Dartford and Gravesham area, with £31.7 million available for immediate use and a further £22.3 million being invested later.

Mr Blair and Mr Prescott made a brief tour of the estate and riverside after flying over the Thames Gateway by helicopter.

Mr Prescott praised Ingress Park as the “first step towards building a new city in north Kent” and stressed new transport infrastructures, hospitals and schools were also included in the plans.

He said: “The money I’m allocating will help to kick-start the process of turning Europe’s largest collection of brownfield sites into living, breathing communities where people are proud to belong.

“It’s not only about new homes,” he added, “it’s about doing something for the people who live in houses where the quality has declined.” Tony Blair said: “The development of the Thames Gateway is of enormous importance and we can see from this development what can be done.” He said development of the Gateway was good news for the area because much of the land would otherwise lie waste.

And improved transport links and business opportunities meant the regeneration would also benefit the rest of the country and Europe, according to the Prime Minister.

The announcement was made at the launch of Creating Sustainable Communities: Making it Happen, which is the first of a series of updates on a long-term plan published last February.

The £1 billion is made up from £446 million from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office and £600 million already committed by the Department for Transport.

NOBODY was about to scoff at £54 million coming to Dartford and Gravesham, but the degree of enthusiasm differed along the political party lines.

Local Labour politicians welcomed the multi-million pound windfall wholeheartedly while the Conservatives sided with caution.

Environmentalists, meanwhile, warned of potential havoc along the brownfield sites in Thames Gateway.

Welcoming the news, Gravesham Labour MP Chris Pond said the plans would provide “sustainable prosperity to the people of Gravesham” while safeguarding the environment.

And Dartford Labour MP Howard Stoate added: “The fact they chose to make this announcement at Ingress Park underlines the Government’s commitment to Kent Thames-side and its desire to create vibrant and genuinely sustainable communities in this area.” Labour leader of Gravesham Council Councillor Rosemary Leadley said the money would provide affordable housing for young people and key workers, without sacrificing green belt land.

Meanwhile, Conservative Dartford Council leader Councillor Kenneth Leadbeater said he was concerned about the density of developments and how to ensure new communities integrated with existing ones.

But he welcomed the extra money, especially the “wonderful boost” for the town centre.

He said: “We need some sort of anchor store in Dartford and this money gives us a real chance in attracting another major store.” Kent County Council (KCC) Conservative leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said the amount of money heading to Kent as a whole only constituted one per cent of the £10 billion KCC needs to build the 20,000 homes and necessary infrastructure.

But he said: “The North Kent news is really welcome because much of it is for land purchase to build on waste industrial land.

“This will take the pressure off greenfield sites and fits our commitment to protect Kent’s countryside.” However Kent Wildlife Trust warned about the loss of habitat and insects on brownfield sites along Thames Gateway.

Senior conservation officer Richard Moyes said: “Unless we see a commitment to the natural environment from developers, planners and the Government, we could be at the start of a wildlife meltdown.”

CRUCIAL BOOST FOR BOROUGH

BEXLEY will be benefiting from the massive cash injection, which will change the face of Erith town centre and develop areas of Thamesmead and Crayford.

Up to £10 million will be spent on widening the Thames Road, in Crayford, to a dual carriageway and so put the final piece in the South Thames Development Route jigsaw.

MP for Erith and Thamesmead, John Austin said: “This is crucial for the retention and growth of employment opportunities in Thamesmead and Woolwich.” Erith town centre will see improved public transport, pedestrian and cycle routes and boosted crime prevention measures with £3 million. And £2.7 million will be spent reclaiming land at Tripcock Point, in Thamesmead, to build 2,000 homes.

A further £10 million will help Bexley Council and Gallions Housing Association to rebuild Tavy Bridge, south Thamesmead, and pave the way for new developments while improving the existing area.

Mixed housing for key workers is on the cards in Felixstowe Road, Abbey Wood, while a technology park and innovation centre will be built in East Thamesmead.

Mr Austin added: “This is great news for Greenwich and Bexley and follows confirmation the Docklands Light Railway will be up and running to Woolwich by 2008.”

PREMIER'S WELCOME

RUMOURS about the Prime Minster coming to the new housing estate in Greenhithe were being whispered the night before Tony Blair made his fleeting visit.

It was enough to see a handful of children hanging around the marquee where Mr Blair accompanied the Deputy Prime Mister John Prescott to make the billion-pound announcement.

On his way out Mr Blair was stopped by Julia Arnold of Ingress Park Avenue, who asked for his autograph for her daughter and two of her friends.

She said: “He was really nice about it. He just said ‘pleased to meet you’ and asked whether I was happy here and I said ‘yes’.” Mrs Arnold moved to the estate a year ago after having lived in Bexleyheath and says living on the estate — presented as a model for further development in Thames Gateway — is great for children.

She said: “We have security out here so I know they’re safe. They come in from school and go out to play and I don’t see them until tea-time again.” She says the open spaces are magnets for the children to play on.

The estate comprises 950 homes and developer Crest Nicholson is planning to build a primary school and community centre on the site.

TIME TO REGENERATE

THE millions of pounds winging its way to Dartford and Gravesham will come in two instalments to regenerate the town centres, build new communities and improve transport links.

Up to £12.6 million will be used to redevelop north-east Gravesend with residential and mixed-use sites, such as leisure and business facilities.

The money will also fund transport improvements, including a bridge over the North Kent railway line.

A further £1.6 million is set aside to continue the regeneration of Gravesend town centre, while £6.5 million will be spent on getting Dartford town centre back on a footing.

Improvements are envisaged for the Lowfield Street area, with a new town square, re-routing of the ring road and cultural improvements — including the integration of the library and museum in Market Street.

The Swanscombe peninsula will be regenerated, along with improved transport links from there to Ebbsfleet and Gravesend with another £5 million.

Bus system Fastrack stands to get an extra £4 million, while £2 million is also available to co-ordinate the projects.

The second instalment will see continued improvements in Dartford town centre and the Swanscombe peninsula.

Dartford town centre’s regeneration will go up a gear with £10 million for buying, decontaminating and developing GlaxoSmithKline’s east site for residential, leisure and business development.

And £12.3 million will be spent in the Swanscombe peninsula, with residential mixed urban villages cropping up between Dartford and Gravesend.