Sustainable Communities Strategy

Our Vision for Thurrock

'We want Thurrock to be at the dynamic heart of the Thames Gateway, a place of ambition, enterprise and opportunity, where communities and businesses flourish and the quality of life for local people is continually improving.'

Achieving Our Vision

To achieve our vision, we have identified five priorities:

  1. To ensure a safe, clean and green environment.
  2. To improve the education and skills of local people.
  3. To encourage and promote job creation and economic prosperity.
  4. To provide and commission high quality and accessible services that meet, wherever possible, individual needs.
  5. To build pride, respect and responsibility in Thurrock's communities and its residents.

Thurrock's Sustainable Community Strategy provides a long-term road map which will enable us to achieve our vision. It is informed by other strategies, local and regional, that impact on Thurrock such as the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation's Regeneration Framework, Thurrock Council's Local Development Framework and the East of England Regional Spatial Development Strategy.

We expect the vision and priorities of our Sustainable Community Strategy to inform strategic planning in Thurrock for the next 10 years.

Sustainable Community Strategy - priorities and outcomes:

  1. To ensure a safe, clean and green environment

    • Residents will be safe in their homes and in the community and will feel safe wherever they are in the borough
    • Children, young people and adults will be kept safe from harm and neglect
    • Residents will feel confident in the response of the police and the local authority to their safety concerns
    • People who misuse drugs and alcohol will be supported to make positive change in their lives for their own benefit and for that of their families and community
    • Our streets and parks will be clean and well maintained
    • More residents will be using Thurrock's high quality and well connected green spaces
    • Residents will recycle compost and reuse more materials
    • More homes and businesses will have reduced their carbon emission and Thurrock will be better prepared for the impact of climate change
    • The natural environment will be protected, enhanced and celebrated

  2. To improve the education and skills of local people

    • We will improve the educational attainment of Thurrock's children and young people and increase participation rates of young people entering further education, apprenticeships and training
    • In order to adapt to a changing economy Thurrock's adults will be supported and encouraged to improve their educational attainment and obtain new, or higher level, qualifications and training
    • Children, young people and adults will be supported to take responsibility for their future including making healthier choices about lifestyle
    • For young people and adults, we will narrow the gap in educational attainment between the most and least disadvantaged areas and groups
    • Partners will work with local employers and schools to ensure that local people of all ages have the confidence and the skills that current and future businesses need
    • As young people and adults become better educated and a more skilled workforce develops, these will be key drivers in businesses locating to Thurrock
    • Local people will have the opportunities to develop new skills so that they can benefit from good salaries that businesses pay for skilled workers

  3. To encourage and promote job creation and economic prosperity

    • Capitalising on Thurrock's strategic assets and strong business base, new job opportunities will be created within existing, and new, industry sectors to provide more choices and higher paid employment for Thurrock residents
    • Local businesses will be supported to be sustainable, innovative and prosperous
    • The physical, social and community infrastructure will be sufficiently developed to support and facilitate regeneration and economic growth
    • Major investment projects, such as London Gateway, the Royal Opera House production park, and the expansion of Lakeside will be actively supported to ensure they are successful
    • Roads, public transport networks and housing will be enhanced so that local people have better access to employment opportunities, other amenities and affordable housing
    • More local people will receive support to start their own businesses
    • Those who struggle to enter the workforce will be supported so that they can find regular employment.

  4. To provide and commission high quality and accessible services that meet, wherever possible, individual needs

    • Services will be redesigned to give residents increased choice. Services will be tailored to meet their needs and aspirations, and we will aim for accessible, seamless, responsive and high quality services.
    • Health and social services will be increasingly joined-up and will include a range of prevention and specialist support at times when these are needed.
    • Residents will be encouraged to take personal responsibility and control over meeting their needs including adopting healthier lifestyle choices
    • Residents' health improves across the borough and the health inequality differences between areas are reduced
    • Thurrock's Third Sector will be thriving and providing high quality services according to identified needs
    • Residents and businesses will have a say in how services are delivered and will feel confident that partners are actively listening and responding to their concerns
    • People of all ages will feel that public services are provided fairly and they are treated with respect

  5. To build pride, respect and responsibility in Thurrock's communities and its residents

    • We will aim to communicate better with Thurrock residents so they are able to understand, inform and influence decisions in their local area
    • Publicly-funded services will encourage and listen to the voices of our communities
    • Communities will be empowered and informed,and able to have their say, and be involved, in local decision making
    • Thurrock will have proud, tolerant and welcoming communities that respect diversity, heritage and culture
    • Individuals from different backgrounds will have a sense of belonging in Thurrock communities
    • Thurrock residents will be encouraged to take personal responsibility for their own and their communities' well-being
    • Active citizenship and volunteering will be celebrated and encouraged by all publicly-funded services.

Sustainable Community Strategy

This Sustainable Communities Strategy sets out how we are stepping up our ambitions for Thurrock, addressing the impact of the global recession on the local economy and reducing inequalities (see how to access PDFs):