| Supermarket: | Somerfield - 1400sq.m |
|---|---|
| National Retail Chains: | There are no "Multiple" stores in Grays, but there are over 10 High Street names, including Boots, Wilkinson's, Iceland, W H Smiths, Mister Byrite, H. Samuel, Superdrug, Mothercare, Bon Marche, Ethel Austin and Woolworths. |
| Food Establishments: | There are KFC, Macdonalds and Wimpy chains and a number of fast food takeaways and restaurants. |
| Edge of Centre: | Aldi and Poundstretcher discount stores are located immediately outside the town centre boundary, as defined on the Local Plan Proposals Map. |
| Markets: |
|
| Proposed Development: | Comprehensive development proposed under Thurrock Borough Local Plan Policy GTC 11. |
(Source: Thurrock Borough Council Records)
| Year | 1987 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 00 | 01 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
The above figures are based on Colliers Erdman Lewis data. The figures shown are 'Zone A' rents which are expressed in £ per sq. ft for a hypothetical shop in the best pitch within the centre.
| Type of Shop | No. of Shops | Different Types of Shops | No. of Shops | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1995 | 1990 | 1995 | ||
| Total | 223 | 207 | Total | 39 | 38 |
| Convenience Store | 14 | 14 | Convenience | 4 | 5 |
| Durable Shops | 103 | 67 | Durable | 23 | 20 |
| Service Shops | 92 | 95 | Service | 12 | 13 |
| Vacant Shops | 14 | 31 | |||
(Source: Thurrock Borough Council Records)
Notes:
| Year | Total Ground Floor Units | % Total Ground Floor Units Vacant | % Ground Floor Units in A1* Retail Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Units Lost | 11 units | ||
| 1990 (pre Lakeside) | 223 | 6.2% | 60.7% |
| 1992 | 217 | 13.0% | 58.0% |
| 1995 | 207 | 15.0% | 52.8% |
| 1997 | 212 | 16.0% | 44.0% |
(Source: Thurrock Borough Council Records)
Notes:
A survey undertaken in connection with publication of the Borough Local Plan estimated the retail floorspace in Grays town centre at 35,000 m sq.
A precise measure of the population within the Town Centre boundary, as defined in the Local Plan, is not available. However the population in Grays Thurrock Town Ward was 11,388 in 1991.
(Source : Office of Population Censuses and Surveys : Census 1991)
The current owners are Fordgate Ltd who have spent £1 million pounds on refurbishing the precinct shopping centre as part of the ongoing improvements to Grays Town centre. Recently the main market in Grays was relocated away from its site underneath the multi-story car park and the site redeveloped for a retail store (Wilkinsons) as an extension to the precinct shopping centre. Fordgate Ltd have also taken over control and running of the multi-story car park above the precinct, which had formerly been owned by Thurrock Council.
From April 1996 the main market in Grays was relocated from its undercover location into Clarence Road and the Northern end of the High Street. The market now has the appearance of a more traditional street market consisting of rows of traders stalls, with awnings.
The Borough Local Plan and Grays Development Briefs identify a number of sites in the town centre that are a suitable for redevelopment for commercial and/or retail and leisure purposes, with a total of approximately 6.0 hectares of land available. The former bus depot at Hogg Lane which is identified as one of the development sites has been recently been demolished and the site cleared and landscaped.
A planning application for development of land between London Road and George Street, west of the former State cinema, was approved by the Council's Development Control Committee on 7th June 2000. The development includes a Morrison's food retail store and Travis Perkins building material's store. These buildings were constructed during 2001/2.
The Council also wishes to protect the remaining historic buildings in the town centre and, to this end, has published a document called "Buildings of Special Character in Grays Town Centre". This identifies the buildings and other features that contribute to the character of the town centre and which should be retained as part of any future redevelopment scheme.
Thurrock Council submitted a bid to the government for funding under the new Single Regeneration Budget (SRB). The bid was for environmental improvements in Grays town centre and Thurrock has been awarded £600,000 to be spread over two years. The Council have also received £600,000 from the Government's City Challenge Funding Scheme. The money is being spent to help transform Grays South with new paving, street furniture, landscaping and a continental piazza square. Additional funding for town centre improvements has been secured following legal agreements with some developers at Chafford Hundred and Lakeside.
The Home Office has recently agreed to part fund a closed circuit television security system for the town centre. This follows the formation of a partnership to secure CCTV funding between Thurrock Borough Council, Chamber of Commerce, Essex Police, Fordgate Ltd, local retailers and the local Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
Thurrock Council began a High Street refurbishment scheme in 1992, part of which included the commissioning of a series of artworks to revitalise links with the past. Further improvements are being undertaken in George Street and Clarence Road and include additional artworks.
Further information available from the Planning Department includes Population Census information contained in the "Thurrock Borough Profile" (1994); the Adopted Thurrock Borough Local Plan (1998); Grays Town Centre Planning Briefs (1991), and other Fact sheets including one on Lakeside.
