Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
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Castle Point
Select one of the numbers below to link to the relevant case study.
With a population of 86,000 Castle Point is nestled at the heart of the South Essex sub-region. The population is spilt between Canvey Island, Benfleet and Hadleigh centres. Reflecting the size of the Borough, the housing and growth targets laid down in the draft East of England Plan are more modest than other areas with 4,000 new dwelling and 2,000 new jobs required. There are a number of opportunities for development in Canvey Island and across the rest of the borough of Castle Point.
Canvey Island
Strengthening employment opportunities is at the heart of making Canvey Island a more self-sustaining community. EEDA is working with partners to develop the existing industrial estate at Charfleets and to bring forward a new employment site at nearby Northwick Road. With a history of waste management and recycling, Canvey Island is looking to encourage the creation of an environmental technologies cluster with a focus on renewable energy.
The town centre provides an opportunity for future retail, employment and residential development to create a modern living area with an attractive retail offer, easy access to public services and a high-quality public realm. A major supermarket recently located within the centre and there is potential to redevelop the existing shopping centre to expand the retail offer. Canvey seafront has potential to develop as a focal point for the southern part of the Island.
Hadleigh town centre provides an opportunity for further retail, leisure and residential development on a number of under-utilised sites. The town centre is well-connected to the local public transport network which provides good access to Southend. A number of residential schemes have recently been successfully completed in the town centre, demonstrating its potential. The Borough Council is encouraging leisure development and is in negotiations to bring a new multi-screen cinema to the centre together with other leisure facilities. Benfleet town centre contains a number of under-utilised sites offering potential for redevelopment, particularly for mixed schemes comprising retail and residential uses. The town centre is well-located for public transport, served by Benfleet station on the c2c line to Fenchurch Street.
Infrastructure investments in the area include:
- Junction improvements at Sadlers Farm will improve access to Canvey Island from the A13 or A130. Some additional road improvements in the south west will be needed to enable access to Charfleets Industrial Estate and beyond. Essex County Council are drawing up plans for these together with the business case for a new road linking Canvey Island with Shellhaven in Thurrock.
- a new £6.2m PCT facility, with potential for creation of an important community hub at the Paddocks
- a new landscape at the seafront, using green design and environmentally-sourced materials, with initial investment of £1.5m.
- environmental improvements have already been made at the Canvey Heights Country Park, including a new visitor centre and community programme.
- The RSPB recently bought 323 hectares of land on the west of the Island and are now drawing up plans to increase access to all residents, with a view to extending the country park facilities in Thurrock and Basildon. This will be an important element of the Thames Gateway Parklands.
