THE PROPOSALS

 In 2020, NewRiver (the owner of Grays Shopping Centre) held a Community Planning Weekend to kick start a programme of community engagement. We had to pause during the pandemic but came back in January 2022 with an update for the community, held at the centre.  Finally, the team held another community engagement in July 2023 to share how the plans had evolved following previous community engagement and ahead the submission of an outline planning application later in 2023. 

Our ambition is to put Grays shopping centre at the heart of the town centre regeneration

Key features of our proposals:

• Enhance and revitalise the town centre and public square 
• Re-invigorate the retail and leisure offer
• Boost the night-time and leisure economy within the town
• Create space for community use and independent-focused retail
• Create a vibrant and safe public realm with open spaces and increase biodiversity in the heart of town
• Bring forward new homes in an accessible and sustainable central location
• Improve pedestrian connectivity across the town
• Introduce design-led, landscaped spaces for the whole community 
• Facilitate pedestrian linkages with the Thameside neighbourhood 
• Support the creation of new jobs and opportunities

In June 2022 and July 2023, members of the project and design team held a community engagement event in Grays Shopping Centre, from which the presentation boards and the conceptual flythrough video are available to view below.  

We are continuing to engage with residents, businesses and workers within Grays, members of Thurrock’s civic societies, and local organisations from across Thurrock to understand how our scheme can positively add to central Grays. 

We are keen to hear from all interested stakeholders, and your feedback will continue to inform our evolving design.   

  Please send your feedback to; 

• Freepost REDWOOD
• or via email on futuregrays@nrr.co.uk