Thames Freeport - Britain's Trading Future

[ 108 ] T H U R R O C K , B A R K I N G & D A G E N H A M , H AV E R I N G Thurrock Council is the lead authority for Thames Freeport. The Thames Freeport is an exceptional opportunity for Thurrock businesses and residents to benefit from additional employment, investment, economic activity, trade, innovation and productivity. Thurrock has a well-balanced mix of beauty and business with billions of pounds of investment planned for homes, jobs and infrastructure. Three international ports punctuate 18 miles of riverfront with cranes and gigantic container ships, while industrial parks line the A13, all within driving distance of the major London airports. Rural villages and market towns are set into the 70 per cent of the borough which is green belt. Nature reserves, heritage locations and sites of special scientific interest abound. The Port of London, at the heart of the Thames Estuary, handles more cargo than any other UK port — 80 per cent of which is traded through the ports of Tilbury and London Gateway, connecting with over 125 ports globally — making Thurrock the UK’s port capital. As home to two of Thames Freeport’s lead private sector partners, DP World (London Gateway) and Forth Ports (Tilbury), Thurrock is perfectly situated to deliver the benefits that freeport status will bring to businesses and local communities, as well as regional and national economies. Taken together with other regeneration initiatives, including Towns Funds and the adoption of a new Economic Development Strategy — Backing Thurrock — this offers significant and additional benefit to Thurrock and the wider region. The Government has invested £42.7 million into Thurrock as part of the Towns Fund with Tilbury receiving £22.8 million and Grays being awarded £19.9 million. Both towns have plans which include reconnecting their communities with the river and improving the access to and quality of green and public spaces, making them healthier and more attractive places to live, work, learn and play. The funding is aimed at projects which will create lasting social and economic impact for its residents, businesses and visitors for generations to come. Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL), in partnership with Thurrock Council, is delivering a £1 billion regeneration project that will transform Purfleet-on-Thames into a desirable riverside destination. £75 million of funding has been secured as part of the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund. The first homes can now begin to be built as part of the initial stage of delivery of the scheme that includes a new town centre, health and education facilities, 2,850 homes and will enable vital infrastructure for the Purfleet-on-Thames community. Thames Freeport will support a range of social infrastructure projects aiming to create a more productive and prosperous place. Through retained business rates generated from investment on freeport tax sites, Thurrock Council will be able to deliver a significant social infrastructure and regeneration package to the surrounding communities. This £300 million portfolio will include projects directly related to the skills, levelling up, investment facilitation and net zero objectives of the Freeport, including £35 million for a new culture, health and wellbeing community facility in Thurrock. The £300 million will contribute to ensuring that residents and businesses benefit from superfast digital connectivity, better housing and infrastructure, a new Technical University and a physical environment which allows for active travel across the whole of South Essex. The benefits for Thurrock residents and businesses of the Thames Freeport cannot be overstated. Thurrock — ‘By Thames to all peoples of the world’