Thurrock, a Unitary Authority Area With the Status of a Borough in the English County of Essex
Thurrock is a borough and a unitary authority area in the Essex County in England. It is considered an area of urban regeneration within the Thames Gateway development zone and is a part of the London commuter belt. It sits along the banks of the River Thames to the east of London. The borough covers an area of 64 square miles, with about 18 miles of riverfront and more than half considered as Green Belt. Greater London lies to the west of the borough while the river flows to the south and Essex County borders this borough on the east and north. Across the river there is Kent.
Despite the fact that a large majority of its land area is protected Green Belt land, the borough still provides limited opportunities for commercial and industrial development. It is a component of the Thames Gateway redevelopment area, a corridor of opportunity recognised by the central government as an area with the most potential for commercial development in the country.
Food, Shopping and Accommodation in Thurrock
This borough is the place to go for serious shopping. The Lakeside Shopping Centre or the Intu Lakeside is found in Thurrock. It’s a huge shopping mall with high street shops, cinemas, restaurants and food courts. There is also the Grays Shopping Centre and the Lakeside Retail Park plus a large collection of independent shops and retailers.
Things to See and Do in Thurrock
The Metropolitan Green Belt encompasses 70% of the land area of the borough, but there are 494 acres of land designated for industrial use. There are two hundred thirty-nine listed building, nineteen scheduled ancient monuments, ten sites of Special Scientific Interest and seven conservation area in the borough.