A town in Essex is set to undergo a major regeneration scheme after an agreement was signed between the council and its development partner.

Features of the £1 billion project include building 2,500 homes along with a 600,000 sq ft media studio in Purfleet, Thurrock.

In addition, developer Purfleet Centre Regeneration Ltd (PCRL) will deliver a new primary school, a new health centre, new shops, remove a level crossing and build a new railway station.

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Thurrock Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, Richard Speight, said: "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.

"But in 2017 the first phase will start to rise – and that includes the school, the health centre and the supermarket.

"We will also see access to the Thames being opened up in this phase of the development as well as hundreds of riverside homes, new public squares, new streets, new pathways, new right of ways, and new publicly accessible open spaces."

Ken Dytor, MD 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."

(LM)