Thames Freeport - Britain's Trading Future

[ 24 ] The PLA is the UK leader in ports environmental innovation. From its Sustainable Innovation Fund, seeking new technologies to deliver lower emission river operations, to the Greening Inland Shipping events, the PLA is matching operators with technologies to achieve lower carbon operations more quickly. Driving towards the establishment of hydrogen infrastructure will be a key Freeport building block. Work on this is being advanced by the Thames Estuary Growth Board and the PLA. The Freeport and the allied focus on zero carbon energy options are central to the updated river development framework — the Thames Vision — which will be issued early in 2022. Originally launched in 2016, the Vision has seen the port reclaim its position as the UK’s largest by tonnage of goods handled and a surge in innovation, trialling the use of the river for movement of light freight. The PLA backs greater river use flowing from the Vision, and now the Thames Freeport, through its Investment Plan. So far, this has seen more than £30 million invested in acquiring and bringing back into operation safeguarded wharves, the key ‘slip roads’ for trade on the river. This commitment to invest, supporting greater river use and improving the river for future generations, will remain at the heart of the renewed Thames Vision. And it leaves the PLA well placed to support the evolution of the Thames Freeport. P O R T O F L O N D O N A U T H O R I T Y The PLA is an active partner, supporting through marine, planning and other expertise, helping customers make the most of the unique opportunity for low carbon transport from the deep seaport into the heart of the city. Training for the future: PLA apprentices Resilience, whether to climate change or other challenges will feature in the updated Thames Vision, drawing in the work of the Environment Agency and others