Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government. It is an Urban Development Corporation set up by the Government of the United Kingdom covering the entire the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex. It handles large planning applications in the borough, and is part of the government's plan for urban expansion in the Thames Gateway.
Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation opened for business in 2005 to drive economic growth in Thurrock, create homes, jobs and opportunities and make Thurrock a place where people want to live and work. The Corporation was given a target of creating 26,000 jobs and 18,500 homes in the borough and given the power to determine major planning applications to help achieve this.
The Corporation encourages and manages new projects and is committed to achieving growth and improvement in the Borough. It receives annual government funding and is eligible to bid for more to support key projects, such as the development of Purfleet centre. It also works to attract private sector investment in Thurrock.
In 2007, following public consultation, its remit was extended to last until 2014.[1]
At the end of the premiership of Gordon Brown, there was an intention to merge the Corporation into the Homes and Communities Agency. However, following its emphasis on localism, the 2010 coalition government announced that the Corporation would instead be merged into Thurrock Borough Council from 1 April 2012.[2]