PLANS for a £19 million transformation of Grays waterfront have finally been submitted.
If approved the scheme, managed by the Grays Town Board, will see Grays Riverside, between Grays Town Wharf and Tilbury Docks, turned into a stunning community facility with a new walkway, raised flood defence and landscaping.
A striking amphitheatre will be used to soften a new sea wall which will raise the flood defence from 6.80 metres to 7.5 metres. A pathway will allow people to walk down to the base of the stepped amphitheatre.
The northern corner of Kilverts Field will act as a gateway to the regenerated area where there will be new lighting, seating, planting and bins.
A widened path to the riverfront will have a “stopping point” designed to allow views over the wall to the yacht club. The pathway will be shared between pedestrians and cyclists. The lookout area on the riverfront will have views of Tilbury Industrial Wharf.
A meandering woodland path will continue through Grays Beach Riverside Park. The existing overgrown path through the park will be widened and resurfaced, creating a woodland walk through existing mature trees.
The existing path through the park will be widened where necessary and resurfaced. At the junction of the park and the street, the gates will be removed and new light columns and cycle stands will be constructed.
The application by architects Tonkin Liu on behalf of Thurrock Council said: “Against the backdrop of the Thames, the riverside area has the potential for growth as a new destination for both locals and visitors. It can be a key area for enterprise, leisure and well-being tapping into cultural activities and building on the existing diverse community.
“In this first phase, we seek to provide a seamless connectivity to the river; embracing the natural uses of the riverfront further by connecting existing open spaces and the riverfront. Our journey began back in 2020 when the residents of Grays expressed a desire to make better use of the riverside. The local community wanted a greener and more natural environment linked to the Thames and the wider town.”
The application follows a consultation with the Thurrock community.
The scheme, which began in 2020, is financed through the government’s Towns Fund scheme.
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