The Tory party would audit the 拢9bn Thames Gateway programme to make sure it 鈥渄elivered and delivered well鈥�, Stewart Jackson, the shadow regeneration minister, said yesterday

He also hinted that more powers would be devolved to local decision-makers under the party鈥檚 鈥渓ocalism鈥� agenda.

Jackson told the Thames Gateway Forum this week that the structure of delivery bodies was over-complicated and that it was hard to see the 鈥渓ines of accountability鈥� and what had been achieved so far.

鈥淚n the next Comprehensive Spending Review, we have to know what chance projects have of getting off the ground and what they will deliver if they do. We have to make sure they deliver and deliver well,鈥� he said.

He added that all government investment should offer value for money and that planning under the Tories would be simpler, quicker and cheaper. The party is set to publish a green paper covering the topic in December.

Jackson鈥檚 comments came as John Denham, the communities secretary, told the forum that Labour had an 鈥渦nwavering鈥� commitment to the scheme.

Denham gave the all-clear to a 拢500m proposal to transform Purfleet in Essex via a PPP between Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and private enterprise.

鈥淥ur commitment to the Gateway is unwavering as we know it will play a crucial role within the UK economy, driving growth across the South-east and beyond,鈥� said Denham.

However, government officials speaking at the event were keen to play down expectations of an immediate surge in development and housing. They implied that the scheme was a long-term project for economic growth.

The HCA is reviewing spend on housing growth in the Gateway, in response to a 拢70m cut in public funding. Budgets are likely to be cut for schemes that cannot guarantee immediate output.

Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, admitted financial constraints would lead to a smaller number of local delivery agencies in the growth area.

He added that an assessment of individual schemes鈥� 鈥渟trategic fit鈥� and whether there was support from Gateway residents would be used to decide which projects to take forward.

Joe Montgomery, director general at the communities department, said the Thames Gateway was the 鈥減oor stepchild鈥� of the London region, but that with more private investment it could achieve its potential.

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