Regeneration body to be merged with HCA
One of three regional regeneration bodies set up by the government is to be incorporated into a national agency, and the others also face changes.
Following a review of the three urban development corporations, the government has announced the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation will be incorporated into the Homes and Communities Agency.
Staff and projects will transfer to the HCA, but the team will continue to be based in Thurrock to work on redevelopment projects in the Purfleet and London Gateway port in Shellhaven.
Another UDC, the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, will continue until after the Olympics in 2012, but will increasingly focus on regeneration in the Lower Lea Valley area.
It will work with the Olympic Delivery Authority and Olympic Park Legacy Company on securing a lasting legacy from the games, and its future will be reviewed when the other two bodies are wound up.
Shahid Malik, the minister responsible for regeneration in London and the Thurrock Thames Gateway area, said: ‘The new arrangements will ensure we continue regeneration in these areas during these tough times.
‘These are the right changes to make at the right time and will benefit people living and working in communities throughout the Thames Gateway.’
The third UDC, the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, will also continue to exist, but will return some of its planning powers to local authorities. It will cease to be responsible for all developments of over 50 homes, with the threshold raised to 200, and will work more closely with partners.
Regeneration minister Ian Austin said: ‘The regeneration and sustainable growth of Northampton, Daventry and Towcester remains an important priority and will benefit from a stronger, more focused UDC working closely with local authorities and communities.’
The UDCs were set up in 2003 and 2004. At the time the government committed to reviewing them after five years.
Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the HCA, said: ‘The quinquennial review has set the overall framework for delivery in the UDC areas for coming years and we will work very closely with government and local partners to ensure that we are well placed to take advantage of opportunities to deliver regeneration.’
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