The 'Thames Gateway' is an area of land stretching 40 miles (60 km) eastwards from
East London on both sides of the
River Thames and the
Thames Estuary. The area, which includes much
brownfield land, has been designated a national priority for urban regeneration. It stretches from
Westferry in
Tower Hamlets to the
Isle of Sheppey.
Scope
The Thames Gateway comprises parts of 15 different local authority areas in three
regions of England.
★ In the East London
sub region of
London:
★
★
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
★
★
London Borough of Bexley
★
★
London Borough of Havering
★
★
London Borough of Lewisham
★
★
London Borough of Greenwich
★
★
London Borough of Newham
★
★
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
★ In the
East of England region (the northern section):
★
★
Thurrock Borough (
Unitary Authority)
★
★
Borough of Southend-on-Sea (Unitary Authority)
★
★
Essex districts of
Basildon,
Castle Point and
Rochford
★ In the
South East England region (the southern section):
★
★
Medway (Unitary Authority)
★
★
Kent districts of
Dartford,
Gravesham and
Swale
Profile
The area is home to around 1.6 million people and contains some of the most deprived wards in the country, characterised by lack of access to public transport, services, employment and affordable quality housing. Its boundary was drawn to capture the riverside strip that formerly hosted many land extensive industries, serving London and the South East, whose decline has left a legacy of large scale dereliction and contaminated land.
The area of brownfield land, farmland and marsh has been seen by successive governments and planners as having potential to act as a catalyst for the regeneration and growth and for the social advancement of the area, helping to alleviate some of the growth pressures on London and the South East. The government also believes that new private sector housing will reduce house price inflation. (See the
Barker Report)
Administration
The
Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for co-ordinating the project and development will be largely delivered by the three
regional development agencies: the
London Development Agency (LDA - part of the
Greater London Authority), the
East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the
South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), as well as the national regeneration agency,
English Partnerships.
The Thames Gateway project aims to improve the economy of the region through the development of marshland, farmland and brownfield land, utilising major transport infrastructure provision, and through the renaissance of existing urban conurbations. Comparisons may be drawn with developments east of
Paris along the
Marne valley, but here a much greater area of land will be used.
Redevelopment zones
The development is split into zones each with a different agency responsible for delivery. The zones are:
★ 'London'
★
★
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
★
★
★
Lower Lea Valley —
Hackney,
Tower Hamlets,
Newham and
Waltham Forest
★
★
★
London Riverside -
Barking & Dagenham,
Havering and
Newham
★
★
Greenwich Partnership
★
★
Bexley Partnership
★ 'East'
★
★
Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Organisation
★
★
Basildon Renaissance Partnership -
Basildon District Council
★
★ Renaissance
Southend
★ 'South East'
★
★ Kent Thameside Delivery Board -
Dartford and
Gravesham
★
★
Medway Renaissance Partnership
★
★
Swale Forward
Zones of Change
Within London there are 9 'Zones of Change' in which developments are expected to be concentrated:
★
★ 1.
Isle of Dogs
★
★ 2. Greenwich, Deptford and Lewisham
★
★ 3.
Greenwich Peninsula
★
★ 4a.
Stratford
★
★ 4b. Lower Lea
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★ 4c.
Royal Docks
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★ 5a.
Barking Town Centre
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★ 5b.
London Riverside
★
★ 6. Charlton to Crayford
In north
Kent there are 4 'Zones of Change' in which developments are expected to be concentrated:
★
★ Kent Thameside (covers
Dartford and
Gravesham)
★
★
Grain
★
★
Medway
★
★ Sittingbourne - Sheerness
In south
Essex there are 3 'Zones of Change' in which developments are expected to be concentrated:
★
★
Thurrock
★
★
Basildon and Castle Point
★
★ Southend and Rochford
Developments
Before
2003 most conspicuous development was situated west of
Beckton. There have been substantial housing schemes at
Chafford Hundred,
Chatham and
Greenhithe and there is a large shopping centre at
Bluewater.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Main articles: Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Phase II of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is currently under construction and runs through the redevelopment area from
Stratford International station in
Stratford City, crossing under the
Thames near
Dartford, to
Ebbsfleet. Domestic high speed trains will also operate on the route as part of a new integrated Kent rail franchise with services terminating at St Pancras.
London
Thames Gateway Bridge
Main articles: Thames Gateway Bridge
Transport for London is currently proposing a bridge between Beckton and Greenwich to be called the
Thames Gateway Bridge. Along with the extensions of the
Docklands Light Railway across the river to
Woolwich, this will improve links between to two sides of the river and it is hoped this help spur economic growth and reduce the stress on existing road transport links.
During public consultation, 85% of respondents were in favour of the proposed bridge. However 74% supported keeping the
Woolwich Ferry open "in some form". (Source:
TFL Board paper on the bridge) While the volume of traffic using the ferry would diminish with a new bridge open, no decisions on the future of this traditional resource have been made, except that usage and viability of the ferry will be reviewed after the TGB opens.
Stratford City
Main articles: Stratford City
"Stratford City is the most ambitious development within the M25. It will result in one of the largest mixed-use developments in the UK for many years to come. Covering 73 hectares of largely derelict land, the next 15 years will see the creation of a new £4bn metropolitan centre in East London, with more than 100 shops, three big department stores, cafés, schools, hotels, parks and health centres. There will be a new commercial district with landmark towers and new leisure facilities, all in a quality setting with water features. New urban districts will house an extra 11,000 residents and 30,000 workers. It will also house most of the 2012 Olympic athletes
"
East London Transit
Main articles: East London Transit
An intermodal transport scheme to connect housing developments to rail and tube.
White Hart Triangle
Mainly derelict land close to
Plumstead railway station being developed with the aim of creating 2000 new jobs, with funding from the
London Development Agency and
European Union.
East
London Gateway
"The London Gateway Development is a collaboration between DP World and Shell, the development is unique in terms of scale and location. It involves the construction of a world class Port and the UK’s largest logistics and business park. London Gateway Port will be developed at Shell Haven, a 1,500 acre site in Thurrock.
Together the 2 schemes are expected to create up to 16,500 new jobs and help to kick start the Thames Gateway regeneration initiative in Thurrock. The proposals anticipate that the first Container berths will be operational by 2011 and the first business units occupied by the end of 2008.
With a 2 mile river frontage, excellent road and rail links, and a location close to London and the UK’s South East market, London’s Gateway is ideally located for port use.
The Port will be a world class facility capable of handling the largest deep-sea container ships.
London Gateway Park will cover a development area of 300 hectares, it will provide a sustainable , integrated solution for the changing requirements of the distribution, manufacturing and high tech sectors. The park can accommodate buildings in excess of 100,000 sq m and offers linkage to the rail network. High quality architecture and high levels of security will be key features of the park. Extensive landscaping on the site, including a protected ‘habitat’ zone around the park will create an attractive environment for occupiers.
website
Southend-on-Sea
Also on the Essex side of the Thames, at
Southend-on-Sea the council is using money provided through the scheme to redevelop the town centre and seafront and create a "transport corridor" along the A13.
Basildon
Basildon District is a prosperous business location and has in recent years seen significant inward investment and jobs growth. Throughout
Basildon District there are major developments planned estimated to total nearly £2 billion. These include:
★ The regeneration of Basildon, Wickford, Pitsea and Laindon Town Centres
★ A new Sporting Village to make Basildon the Centre for Sport in South Essex
★ The creation of a health and education research centre
★ Investment in the Basildon Enterprise Corridor, the largest business area in the Thames Gateway outside of London
★ The creation of one of the largest wetland nature reserves in Europe in the Thames Marshes
★ Investment in housing estates such as Craylands, Five Links and Felmores to create first class places to live
Coordinating and promoting this programme of investment is the
Basildon Renaissance Partnership] which was set up in 2003 by
Basildon District Council. Its partners also include the
East Of England Development Agency,
English Partnerships,
Essex County Council, and the
Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership with support from the
Department for Communities and Local Government.
South East
Ebbsfleet Valley
In the area around Ebbsfleet International station, over 790,000 m² (8.5 million sq ft) of mixed-use development is planned - including housing, retail, residential, hotel and leisure sites. According to a May 2007 press release from
Land Securities, an "iconic landmark for Kent" will be planned here.
Swanscombe Peninsula
Previously the location of the Swanscombe Cement Works, this 320 acre site, partly in both Dartford and Gravesham, is planned to have 2,700 homes and 500,000 sq ft of office space.
Eastern Quarry
Lying between
Bluewater Shopping Centre and
Ebbsfleet International station, an eventual 6250 residences are planned for the 3 square kilometre site, the first to be occupied in 2008 and development stretching over a 20 year period.
The Bridge
Lying close to the
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge on and around the site of the former Joyce Green Hospital, this 264 acre (1.1 km²) development will have 1.5 million square feet (140,000 m²) of business space and 1500 residences.
Dartford Northern Gateway
In early 2006
SEEDA (The South East England Development Agency) purchased a 2.6 hectare site on the edge of Dartford which had been used by Unwins, an off-license chain, which went into administration in 2005. They also purchased the neighbouring Matrix Business Centre to protect its future. They intend to develop the site with a mixture of retail and other businesses and housing.
Stone Castle
Stone Castle is located to the north of
Bluewater Shopping Centre and will be a mix of residences, a new publicly accessible linear park in St Clement's Valley and a high quality business park set back from St Clement's Way. Phase 1 is known as Waterstone Park, where about 200 of an eventual 650 residences have been built.
Northfleet Embankment
An industrial site of 0.74 km² with 1.9 km of river frontage. Key sites have been acquired by
SEEDA to prepare for the re-development of the area, which could potentially begin once the Northfleet Cement Works moves to the
Medway Valley in 2008.
Chatham Town Centre & Waterfront
Projected to deliver 1500 new homes, plus a variety of other projects, including the
Dickens World tourist attraction (as at July 2006 under construction); refurbishment and expansion of the Pentagon shopping centre with 14000 square metres of new stores and leisure facilities; a new 'cultural quarter' centred on
Medway REACH, a new 2000 seat
auditorium and funding is being sought for a
cable car system across the
River Medway.
Gillingham Waterfront
1000 new residences and 200 new jobs are projected to be created on this 32 hectare site by 2010.
Rochester Riverside
Key sites have been acquired by
Medway Council and other areas are being acquired
SEEDA to prepare for the re-development of the area, with 30 hectares being cleared and decontaminated. Proposed plans include 1700 new residences, with building work projected to start in 2008. 2.5 kilometres of new river wall are being constructed, with the site also being raised by 2 metres.
Strood Riverside
About 500 new homes, improved waterfront access and improved flood defences, with completion projected by 2012.
Temple Waterfront
A 21 hectare site with a possible 600 new homes and part of the waterfront designated for nature conservation. According to
Medway Renaissance, the potential for a new railway station is being investigated.
Criticism
Significant concerns have been raised because the Thames Gateway project proposes removing parts of and building on the
North Kent Marshes, which are recognised as an
Environmentally Sensitive Area by the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and are largely covered by
Sites of Special Scientific Interest. There are also fears of increased erosion.
In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development defined Sustainable Development as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. Opponents of development have argued that promoting the ecological significance of the area by increasing public accessibility to threatened marshes and wetlands, with improved transport corridors, will cause further erosion.
Proposals for a large international airport on
Cliffe Marshes were dropped from the government's white paper on air transport in 2003 after they were rejected by local residents, the local council, as well as conservation charities such as the
RSPB. The plan, which would have required the raising the ground level by 15 m,
[1] was also rejected by the
Confederation of British Industry as too expensive.
[2] However there is a judicial review underway looking at other options for airport expansion including the possibility of a floating airport off the
Isle of Sheppey.
BBC News report
The north of
Kent has historically been a marshland area and is under great pressure by developers. In addition to the great variety of wildlife found on and along the
Thames, these marshes offer invaluable natural flood protection for London area, ever under threat of flooding. A current threat being discussed at a public inquiry beginning in April 2007 is a rail freight depot proposed at Howbury near
Slade Green by
ProLogis. This proposal implies development on an area of Crayford Marshes north of the present train sheds. The London Development Agency perceives some strategic merit in the proposals, although local councillors are not convinced that the depot would truly encourage train movements as an alternative to road haulage. This scepticism arises partly because the railways in the area are heavily used by scheduled passenger trains, to the extent that
Crossrail trains seem unlikely to progress to Dartford unless new tracks were laid to boost local rail capacity.
Dave Wardle, of the
Environment Agency, believes that "London and the Thames Estuary currently have one of the best tidal defence systems in the world."
The Environment Agency assesses these systems will provide a high standard of protection well beyond 2030. However they also advise that future development in the Thames Gateway must go hand in hand with flood risk management, and take account of future plans for flood protection. The Agency insists it is important that effective flood risk management of the whole Estuary is not prejudiced by early decisions and development on the Gateway. (
Source: Audacity.org)
See also
★
UK topics
★
Expansion plans for Milton Keynes
★
Stratford City
★
2012 Summer Olympics
★
University of East London
★
London Climate Change Agency
★
Energy efficiency in British housing
References
★
Press release of Barker Report on the economic effects of building more houses in south-east England. HM Treasury, 2004. Retrieved 26 Dec 2005.
★
The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East. Department for Transport (UK), 2001. Retrieved 26 Dec 2005.
★ Clark, Andrew (16 Dec 2002).
Thumbs down to Kent airport. ''The Guardian'' (UK national title)
External links
★
London Thames Gateway Forum
★
Thames Gateway London Partnership
★
Essex Thames Gateway Information Group
★
Wildlife Gateway - Providing a resource for information on development with wildlife in mind
★
LDA report on proposed Howbury rail depot
★
Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership
★
Greengrid - Connecting green spaces in South Essex
★
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
★
London's 2012 Olympic Bid
★
Maps of the area
★
floating city project in the Thames Estuary
★
Medway Renaissance
★
SEEDA - the
South East England Development Agency
★
Basildon Renaissance Partnership
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