Although Thurrock Council is a member of the Essex Planning Officers Association, it has not been involved in activity to develop this digital Essex Design Guide and will not be adopting the document. Alternatively, the authority will be using the Thurrock Design Guide and Design Strategy (and accompanying documents) to inform and improve the overall design quality standards of development in Thurrock. The Thurrock Design Guide sets out clear guidance on the Council’s expectations regarding the design approach to be adopted in Thurrock and should be referred to as the sole reference source for specific design support / guidance when building in Thurrock. The Thurrock Design Guide including the links to the relevant digital documents and other policy document s are identified in the table further below.

Thurrock has a rich heritage. Tilbury Fort protected London from seaward invaders from the 16th century to the second world war and Queen Elizabeth I famously came here and rallied her nearby army to face the threat of the Spanish Armada. Nowadays a Thames Path connects Tilbury Fort with nearby 19th century Coalhouse Fort - 300 years of great British history, side by side in Thurrock. Coalhouse Fort is set within several acres of Green Flag parkland next to the River Thames and is currently undergoing refurbishment. The Fort served as a coastal defence battery during WW1 and WW2.

Other open green space includes the Thurrock Thameside Nature Reserve, a stunning and innovative visitor centre built on a former landfill site, with superb views over Mucking Flats SSSI and the Thames Estuary (SPA). Footpaths and cycle ways in 120 acres of nature park, which will expand to 845 acres, plus great birdwatching and ship watching. The RSPB Rainham Marshes site is placed right next to the River Thames, and the area was closed to the public for over 100 years and used as a military firing range. After acquiring the site in 2000, the RSPB transformed it into an important place for nature, and a great place for people to visit. Now you can expect to see breeding wading birds in spring and summer, and large flocks of wild ducks in winter. Birds of prey and rare birds are regularly seen too. There are also water voles in the ditches and rare dragonflies flit across the boardwalks.

Thurrock Council	Local guidance	Countywide / Subregional	Not currently available
Local Development Plan
Adopted Local Plan	●
Draft Local Plan	●		●
Development Viability
Developer Contributions
Greater Essex Growth and Infrastructure Framework (GIF)		●
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)	●
Development and Urban Design
Neighbourhood planning	●
Planning Policy	●
Design Guidance	●
Parking Policy	●
Health and Wellbeing
Health Impact Assessment(HIA)		●
Accessible and Adaptable Dwellings		●
National Space Standards		●
Essex Insight Public Health Profile		●
Open Space Appraisal			●
Open Space Strategy	●
Playing Pitch Assessment			●
Climate Change and Flood Risk
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)	●
Water Cycle Study	●
Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP)		●
Sustainable Drainage Systems Design Guide		●
Environment Quality
Landscape Character Assessment			●
Green Space Strategy			●
Historic Characterisation	●
Local Wildlife Site Review			●
Conservation Appraisal	●
Transport and Communications Infrastructure
Highways Standards			●
Cycling Strategy	●	●
Local Transport Plan	●	●
Protected Lanes			●
Economy & Retails
Economic Development Needs Assessment (EDNA)	●
Retail Needs Assessment	●
Housing
Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)	●
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)	●
Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment	●	●
Green Belt
Green Belt Functions Assessment	●
Green Belt Landscape Assessment	●
Green Belt Boundary Review			●