Following the announcement by Michael Gove that the Government will grant £5m funding to unlock the redevelopment of Purfleet, the Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Giving local communities the power and the money to unlock growth and development and make the spending decisions that work for them is a key part of our long-term economic plan to secure a brighter future for Britain and ensure a recovery for all.
Projects such as the Purfleet Town Centre Regeneration plan, which local MP Jackie Doyle Price has campaigned for, will make an important difference to the area. That’s what Growth Deals are all about, backing local people and investing in the infrastructure, housing and skills that will drive forward local economies, create more jobs and opportunities for hardworking people and supercharge all parts of our country.
Thames Gateway Minister Penny Mordaunt has also given her blessing to the scheme.
“I’m delighted at this announcement today. I am so grateful to Jackie Doyle-Price and others who joined me in Purfleet just weeks ago to set out their case. They left me in no doubt how much of a game changer this investment would be to the whole area. This has the potential to lever massive foreign investment too.
I am sorry not to be there in person today, but I look forward to seeing the project progress and the other priority plans of the LEPs. The momentum and focus there is on the Thames Gateway is great to see, and well deserved.”
Penny was clearly convinced by the potential of the scheme when we got together at Purfleet just a few weeks ago. This shows what we can achieve when we work together with a shared ambition. I want Thurrock to be the best it can be, and Purfleet is just the start. I promised to use my voice to fight for Thurrock in Parliament and in Government and that is what I have done and what I will continue to do.
The truth is that with Conservative Ministers I am knocking on an open door because they understand the potential that exists here in South Essex. They understand that the Treasury will get more bang for its buck than if the money was spent elsewhere in the country. A good business case, a strong partnership and there should be no limit to our ambition.