Thames Freeport - Britain's Trading Future

[ 46 ] T H A M E S E S T U A RY G R OW T H B O A R D To promote this growth opportunity, the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission published an ambitious vision for this region of north Kent, south Essex and east London. The Commission ran a call for ideas in 2016, which received over 100 respondents, including public, private and third sector organisations, and members of the public. The Commission also held visits to the Thames Estuary, including along the river itself. The Government agreed that a new governance structure was needed to drive forward this vision and realise the untapped potential of the Estuary. As a result, the Thames Estuary Growth Board was formed: a private / public sector Board with members from the worlds of government, industry, commerce, infrastructure, law, energy and creative production. The Board members are widely connected, have a wealth of expertise, and are dedicated to making great things happen in the Thames Estuary. At the helm is Estuary Envoy, Kate Willard OBE. In her role, Ms Willard, who was awarded an OBE in 2020 for her contribution to transport and the economy, acts as Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, bringing members together to act as a single, unified, coherent voice speaking with the best interests of the Estuary at heart. Together, they connect people and places, capitalising on their experience and expertise to advocate and amplify projects in the Estuary. In July 2020, the Board published its action plan ‘The Green Blue’: ‘Green’ for the Thames Estuary’s beautiful open spaces and the sustainable growth that will ensure it lasts for future generations. The ‘Blue’ for the River Thames, the beating heart of the region. An ambitious vision, The Green Blue laid the Board’s foundations for how it would fulfil the potential of the region, creating 1.3million jobs and adding £190 billion to the UK economy by 2050. The Growth Board’s work chimes with numerous Government objectives, including ‘Building Back Better’, levelling up, developing cleaner energy and meeting net zero targets, and delivering new skills and opportunities. The Thames Freeport will play a vital role in driving each of these forward. After launching The Green Blue, the Thames Estuary Growth Board began to build on its foundations. Among other activities, it lobbied government and campaigned for several months in support of the Thames Freeport bid. The Thames Estuary offers unparalleled opportunities for business — both nationally and internationally — and the Board recognised how mutually beneficial a freeport would be for the businesses operating there and for the region’s residents. The Thames Estuary is a stunning and connected region, comprising parts of the capital and stretching out to the North Sea. For millennia, the River Thames has been a life force, drawing civilisation towards it. Life continues to abound there, and today it is the UK’s number one growth opportunity. Looking north east over Thames Estuary from over Dartford Kate Willard OBE, Thames Estuary Envoy and chair of Thames Estuary Growth Board