Government publishes new Thames Gateway Plan

Gateway to London has welcomed the publication of the new Thames Gateway Interim Plan by the Department for Communities and Local Government and its overall aim of providing a clear vision for how the region should be developed.  

Launched at the Thames Gateway Forum, the annual meeting place for all those involved in the regeneration and development of the Thames Gateway, the plan sets out how the Government plan to build on the Gateway's five key opportunities - Economic, Housing, Employment, Environmental and Community.

This includes creating conditions for a further 180,000 jobs through Canary Wharf expansion, new business locations in Ebbsfleet Valley and Stratford and growth of key employment centres in South Essex, North Kent and rest of the London Gateway, as well as delivering  160,000 well designed sustainable homes in mixed communities.   There are also plans to ensure that every qualified learner in the Gateway is entitled to enrol for Level 4 skills qualification, the creation of Thames Gateway Parklands through the extension of the Green Grids network, the creation of the first low carbon region in the UK, and also the acceleration of the redevelopment of town centres with investment in commercial, housing, tourism, leisure and cultural facilities

Responding to the launch of the Interim Plan, Aman Dalvi, Chief Executive of Gateway to London said:

"The new Interim Plan is the first policy framework to really recognise the importance of job creation and business alongside new housing and improved infrastructure in the Thames Gateway."

"We want to increase inward investment in the region, both nationally and internationally, and help grow existing businesses and opportunities in Thames Gateway London."

The plan is currently an interim version and will be finalised following next year's Comprehensive Spending review.

www.communities.gov.uk/publications/thamesgateway/thamesgateway

Alongside the Plan, DCLG also published a new Development Prospectus which sets out the nature and scale of development proposed in each location in the Gateway, including planning applications lodged and details of investment in key transport infrastructure.

The prospectus is split into the three Gateway regions - London Thames Gateway, Thames Gateway North Kent and Thames Gateway South Essex, and is then broken down further into sub-sections, those in London being Lower Lea Valley/Canary Wharf, London Riverside, The Royals, Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley.

www.communities.gov.uk/publications/thamesgateway/thamesgateway3