Thames Freeport - Britain's Trading Future

[ 48 ] boost it will bring will ripple across the Estuary, generating tens of thousands of jobs and upskilling opportunities. In the immediate term, this will benefit communities along the Estuary that need it most. In the longer term, communities can grow around freeports, as training and career opportunities continue to appear, and talent is drawn to the area. The result is a levelled-up region with skilled, fulfilled and happy people. In terms of commercial impact, investment is drawn to the region, enhancing its value — both economic and social — to those who live, work and do business there. These benefits are crucial to recovery and growth in this post- transition and Covid-managed economy, not only for London and the South East, but for the country as a whole. To the Thames Estuary Growth Board, the environmental impact of the Thames Freeport is vital. The Board is on a mission to create the greenest estuary in the world and the freeport will support this ambition. Investment in clean energy generation, including hydrogen fuel production and storage, will pave the way for cleaner air and greener spaces for the residents of the Thames Estuary. In November 2020, the Growth Board held its first hydrogen summit. Along with leading experts and stakeholders, they collaborated to set out a roadmap for unlocking the potential of hydrogen to power the region and the UK sustainably. The Thames Estuary presents a unique opportunity for investment in hydrogen infrastructure at scale like nowhere else in the UK. Next to one of the world’s leading cities, which has a constant strain on its energy and transport infrastructure, the Estuary could play a vital role in the Green Recovery, supporting a decarbonised London and keeping the UK on track towards a net zero future. Making use of the river is central to the Board’s workplan. Moving freight from road to river will ease congestion and emissions while supporting regeneration and boosting economic growth. The Growth Board has appointed light freight partner WSP, one of the world’s leading professional services consultancies, to help bring this goal to fruition. Driven by the Port of London Authority’s ambitious 2040 net zero target, the freeport will link sites along the Thames Estuary by river into the capital via operational wharves. This will reduce the time and cost of transporting goods, thus alleviating road congestion and cutting pollution along the A13 corridor, resulting in improved air quality for residents in East London and south Essex. Catalysing a world-class digital infrastructure is a priority for the Thames Estuary Growth Board as it is an essential part of growth, the local economy and quality of life for residents. Enhancing the resilience and standard of the region’s digital infrastructure will safeguard the region against future needs. The Growth Board has appointed strategic advisory firm MediaLink to handle a through-the-line analysis of the region’s digital landscape which will kickstart this work. This will then develop into a digital investment strategy which will underpin and help de-risk the planned extensive Estuary developments across media, production, entertainment, leisure, energy, housing, river crossing, river freight, and education sectors. The Board is supporting creative and cultural projects to position London and the South East as a world leader for the creative industries on a scale never seen before. The development of the Thames Estuary Production Corridor, which includes T H A M E S E S T U A RY G R OW T H B O A R D The Thames Estuary’s Green Blue vision was launched in July 2020