DEVELOPERS, entrepreneurs and representatives of local authorities together with media representatives travelled from Tower Bridge today (Tuesday, 21 July) as part of the launch of the new Thames Estuary Growth project aimed at pumping billions into the regional economy.

It is a government-backed initiative aimed at opening up major projects along the estuary - with Thurrock earmarked to play a key role.

The government believes across the Thames Estuary as a whole the project – known as the 'Green Blue Plan' - has the potential to create 1.5million jobs and add value of up to £115bn to the nation's economy. It is described as integral to growth and recovery post-Brexit and post-Covid.

Today's Thames tour on board a Thames Clipper took in Purfleet and Tilbury with briefings on major projects in the borough.

The party were briefed on the overall project by Thames Estuary Envoy and Chair Thames Estuary Growth Board Kate Willard who told them: "This is a really, really special moment right now - we're going on a great adventure.

"We're here. We are the Thames Estuary Growth Board and I am the government appointed Thames Estuary Envoy. We are going to make a transformative change within and across the Estuary to drive growth; creating jobs, improving productivity and ensuring that the right infrastructure is in place to make sure this unparalleled growth opportunity is delivered.

"We will work with existing great partners across the patch and bring new voices and new investment to the Estuary. We will champion the Estuary and be tireless, tenacious and passionate. We're going to make this happen."

Click here for the Blue Green promotional video

Ms Willard is a senior advisor to the Stobart Group and an independent consultant working on a diverse portfolio of infrastructure and growth projects.

She outlined the make-up of the project's development board, which includes Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill and former Port of Tilbury boss Perry Glading who now chairs the council-established Thurrock Business Board.

Ms Willard said: "It's a board that's rolling its sleeves up and cracking on with stuff.

"We are going to champion brilliant projects. And when big, good projects get stuck, we are going to help get stuff unstuck.

"When things hit the buffers we are going to unbuffer them. We are going to make sure great things happen.

"We are not going to get in the way but we are approachable and we are going to get stuff done!"

She added that it is hoped that as part of the project Thames Clippers - and other services - will run from Thurrock and other points along the river to the heart of London.

The travelling contingent were then addressed by representatives from Thamesmead and Barking & Dagenham authorities - who detailed their local plans and what deals had already been secured.

Barking and Dagenham were particularly upbeat - having delivered a number of key projects for the borough including the relocation of London's main markets - Billingsgate, New Spitalfields and Smithfield to a 42-acre site of the former Barking Reach Power station.

The site will be the largest wholesale food market in the UK.

The presentation was made by Pat Hayes, Managing Director of local regeneration company Be First, who said: "The plans to move the markets supports our aspiration to make Dagenham Dock a state of the art business park and build on the area's impressive rail and port infrastructure to create a major growth hub for the Thames Estuary."

Plenty of optimism for Thurrock

Thurrock Thames Enterprise Park, which is to be located on the former Coryton Oil Refinery site, had been among those expressing an interest in getting the relocation and was one of four shortlisted sites but lost out to its Thames neighbours.

Nevertheless, there was plenty of optimism about Thurrock and newly-named Purfleet-on-Thames in particular, from the next speaker, Ken Dytor. He is the executive chairman of Urban Catalyst, one of the partners in Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL) with Swan Housing Association and Thurrock Council.

He presented details of the project, which has already been granted outline planning permission for 2,800 homes.

And Mr Dytor spoke of upbeat plans to carry on the growth of the town's industry through new film and TV studios, with later phases delivering a new university campus.

The halfway point of the trip came with a landing at Tilbury's International Cruise Terminal, where attendees were given a presentation about the port and then visited the recently-opened Tilbury2 roll-on, roll-off port which will also host an aggregates plant seen as vital for building in the south east.

The port of Tilbury and Tilbury 2 – together with the neighbouring DP World London Gateway, are earmarked to become a new free port and will have different customs rules to other UK ports. As well as tariff flexibility, customs facilitations and tax measures, the Freeport will offer wider benefits for businesses such as planning reforms, funding for infrastructure improvements and innovation incentives.

On the return journey to London, there were presentations about the London Resort Project - which has significant growth and business opportunities for Thurrock which is seen as the norther 'landing point' for visitors who will travel to the resort from Grays to the Swanscombe Peninsula.

The London Resort will be one of Europe's largest construction projects and three times larger than any other resort park in the UK, transforming 535 acres into two theme parks, a water park, 3,500 hotel rooms.

Its backers say it will create 30,000 jobs.

And the briefing concluded with details of how the Littlebrook power station site will be redeveloped.

"Working as one unified voice, we will deliver the greenest and most productive estuary in the world" – Kate Willard

Summing up the project Ms Willard said: "We now have a fully formed and exceptional private/public Growth Board, who are working to leverage significant amounts of private sector investment and make the Estuary the most compelling investment proposition in the world.

"Each board member is brilliant: possessing a high level of expertise in their area and fresh to this type of project, they have the drive and ambition to bring in new thinking.

"They are at the razor-sharp, cutting edge of business and are crystal clear about the Thames Estuary we want to create.

"Working as one unified voice, we will deliver the greenest and most productive estuary in the world."

Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Simon Clarke MP said: "I am so pleased to see the Thames Estuary Growth Board's Green Blue Plan has been launched. This plan will drive growth by prioritising jobs, better infrastructure for transport, investment and the expansion of housing.

"It's a plan committed to green growth and ensuring that this world-famous river acts as a gateway to economic growth, benefitting the local community through the creation of better roads and improved town centres.

"The UK is open for business and the Thames Estuary Growth Board's plan makes this clear."

For more information and to read more about The Green Blue, visit the Thames Estuary's new website www.thamesestuary.org.uk

Thurrock Nub News features a number of videos from the on-board presentations - though the sound quality is not great.

They include:

"We're on the brink of great things" - Kate Willard

"Powerful plans for Purfleet" - Ken Dytor

Arrival at Tilbury

[L]https://www.facebook.com/Thurrocknubnews/videos/708717646650073/ [L+] "A world class service for our customers at the Port of Tilbury" - Paul Dale.

[L]https://www.facebook.com/Thurrocknubnews/videos/735802333888167/ [L+] A new road for Tilbury