Click on the links below to listen again to our archived features: 19th March 2007BBC Essex has discovered in Thurrock, despite about 18,000 new homes planned for the area, there are serious concerns about whether the schools can cope with the growing population. Thurrock Council says it needs hundreds of millions of pounds from the government to urgently improve up to eight of its secondary schools. So far money has been found to replace only one of them. Andy Gordon has been to Thurrock to see the state of the schools in the area. 7th March 2007Within a few years tens of thousands of students will be studying there at the new University of Essex campus and South East Essex College - and it's promised it will transform the town. There'll be two new buildings by 2008, including halls of residence, and plans for new sport facilities. The big changes are being masterminded by two women - Andy Gordon has spoken to them about their vision. 26th February 2007A child living in the Gateway tells us what he likes about where he lives and how he want things to change in the coming years. Andy Gordon spoke to Adam Frost, 8, who lives in Grays. 23rd February 2007Four towers blocks in Southend are going to be illuminated to make streams of light shooting up in to the sky. However, not all the residents are too keen. Andy Gordon went to look at the project. 20th February 2007The Chief Executive of the Thames Gateway [working for The Department for Communities and Local Government] spoke to BBC Essex's Dave Monk and took questions from listeners. 14th February 2007Students at the Aveley School have been thinking of ways of symbolically regenerating and bringing together local communities. One pupil wants to build a tunnel of love. Andy Gordon went to meet her. 25th January 2007A mobile media laboratory comes to Aveley School where pupils are learning about regeneration of the Thames Gateway. Reporter Felicity Simper interviews mentors and pupils involved with the project. 28th November 2006The Thames Gateway Partnership plans to make the whole project "Carbon Neutral". In other words they want to build this massive development without having a detrimental effect on the environment. Dr Richard Wheal spoke to the Breakfast programme. 11th July 2006In a special programme from the Thames Gateway, BBC Essex's Breakfast presenter John Hayes uncovered how much we really know about the Gateway, what the impact of all those new homes will be and whether the roads - and the environment - can handle the pressure. July 2006BBC Essex's Andy Gordon has made a special series of reports to try and get to the bottom of what the Thames Gateway is and what it could do to the county. | 
