LONDON, ENGLAND.-Speaking at the Thames Gateway Forum in London, Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "Investing in the historic core of towns and villages is the essential first step in revitalising communities and giving residents a home with a soul. As an asset, heritage is not just a cultural or tourism resource, it is already one of the most important catalysts for regeneration success in the Thames Gateway."

Queenborough's historic harbour gives the area a distinctive character. © English Heritage. The speech was part of the launch of a new English Heritage publication, Growing Places, which celebrates the achievements of heritage-led regeneration across Essex , Kent and East London . The book reveals English Heritage's characterisation programme that has mapped the historic environment of the entire Thames Gateway. One of its many current uses in the region is for identifying valuable heritage areas, or hubs, that can be used to trigger regeneration, bring out an area's distinctive character and boost local communities.

English Heritage has identified more than 100 "historic hubs" in the Thames Gateway - towns, cities and villages that have, often overlooked, historic assets that have the potential to act as a catalyst for revitalising the whole area.

Simon Thurley continued "Heritage-led regeneration brings out the soul of a place by drawing out the features that make it loved, welcoming and unique. Identifying and then regenerating historic hubs provides an economic, geographic and civic focus for new places. Even more importantly, it prioritises improving quality of life for the communities that are already there.

"The historic hubs that define the character of an area could be the buildings along a simple village crossroads or the financial centre of a large town. Instead of looking at the Thames Gateway as a blank canvas, we have to understand its historic context and recognise the historic assets that we already have. How could you successfully revitalise a place like Queenborough, for example, if you didn't know anything about its maritime heritage?

"That's where our characterisation research comes in. It's been tried and tested all over the country, and is the single best way to understand this area's unique historic character.

"To get the most out of the Thames Gateway in the future, we must care about our heritage, and invest in it. Our heritage is a priceless heirloom. If you get a chip in a Ming Vase, you don't just throw it away, and then nip out to Ikea for a replacement. You restore it.

"And the same should be true for urban and rural regeneration. English Heritage isn't interested in building film sets, or recreating Victorian high streets to the last detail. We want to strengthen the historic character of places, and use it to create a distinct focus for new communities.

"That means fixing up the heirlooms, weeding out the rubbish and then working together to fill in the remaining gaps in the built environment.

"And it really works: the Thames Gateway's Georgian and Victorian high streets and medieval ports were all but lost under layers of grime and dereliction. But now, through investment in its historic hubs, the area is rediscovering its soul.

"In Gravesend town centre, English Heritage has been working with the local council to refurbish and re-use tens of historic buildings on the high street. Not so long ago, the centre of Gravesend was a grey area, a vacant, boarded-up space. Now, it has a lively high street which makes the most of its historic buildings.

"Rochester is also a beautiful historic city, yet until recently, the most memorable and distinctive thing about Rochester High Street was the thundering stream of traffic running through it.

"Six years of heritage-led regeneration has renovated more than 70 buildings on Rochester High Street and created more than 1,200sqm of environmental improvements. £1.5m of public sector funding brought in more than £4m of private sector investment - focused with expert precision on where it could do the most good: where it would keep local shops open, improve quality of life and bring out the character of the area. Visitors to Rochester can now walk down a fascinating, welcoming and bustling high street.

"If you want to give communities in the Thames Gateway a home with a soul and create places that people really want to visit, live and invest in; if you want to create sustainable regeneration that will stand the test of time - the area's fascinating historic environment is just waiting to make its contribution."

Growing Places - Heritage and a Sustainable Future for the Thames Gateway, is available free from English Heritage Customer Services on 0870 333 1181 or can be downloaded from our Growing Places page.