The Thames Estuary 2050 vision was published in June 2018 by the Thames Estuary Growth Commission. It sets out the vision of transforming the estuary into a tapestry of productive places along a global river.

The Vision: To create 1.3 million new jobs, £190 million GVA and 1 million new homes.

Context & Timeline  

The Thames Estuary is located to the east of the City London and stitches north and south of the River Thames from Tower Hamlets and Greenwich out towards Ebbsfleet and Thurrock.

Below is a timeline of the Thames Gateway.

• 2003 – Formation of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation
• 2005 – Formation of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
• 2009 – More than £9 million was earmarked by the Labour Government for projects on the Estuary
• 25^th Nov 2010 – Under the coalition Government the Minister for Thames Gateway addresses the Thames Gateway Forum giving the reins back to local decision makers through the Thames Gateway Strategic Group
• 2011- Functions of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation back to Local Authorities and the new London Legacy Development Corporation
• April 2012 – Formation of the London Legacy Development Corporation
• 31^st October 2012 – Abolition of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation
• 2013– London Thames Gateway Development Corporation fully scrapped
• March 2016 – Chancellor George Osborne announces creation of the Thames Gateway Growth commission headed by Lord Heseltine
• March 2016 – Mayor of London Boris Johnson pushes for the creation of a new airport on the estuary
• July-September 2016 – Commission runs consultation on call for ideas
• March 2017– Lord Heseltine removed from post as chair and replaced by John Armitt
• April 2017– Lower Thames Crossing preferred route announced
• 19^th December 2017– Growth Commission’s priorities announced as:
• Creating internationally-competitive centres of excellence
• Making the most of planned investments such as the Lower Thames Crossing, and assessing the case for other investments that have been proposed
• Ensuring that people right across the corridor benefit from expected growth
• Working closely with organisations and communities to develop a plan for delivering the vision
• June 2018 – Publication of the Commission’s 2050 Report

 Thames Gateway Strategic Group

The Thames Gateway Strategic Group was created on 25^th November 2010 when the Minister for the Thames Gateway addressed the Thames Gateway Forum giving the reins back to local people. The strategic group is made up of officers and elected members.

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Following the publication of the NPPF on the 24^th July 2018, James Brokenshire wrote to the Mayor of London giving him a serious talking to on meeting housing need.

Consultation on the Replacement London Plan was undertaken between December 2017 and March 2018. The Replacement Plan proposed to go further than previous iterations of the London Plan, going beyond strategic policies and proposing an increased housing figure of 65,000 dwellings per annum. The increased numbers were proposed to be met through increased densities and more reliance on Brownfield Sites coming forward.

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