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Green Blue scheme to boost Thames growth

[ August 3, 2020   //   Chris ]

The Thames Estuary Growth Board, led by Government-appointed Envoy Kate Willard, has launched ‘The Green Blue’ scheme to boost the potential of the east London, north Kent, south Essex and the Thames regions.

It will work to leverage private sector investment and is currently working to increase freight and passengers moved on the river by 25% and 50% respectively over five years. The Board is also establishing a hydrogen production, storage and fuelling infrastructure to support a shift to green vessels and support green, land-based transport.

Key projects in the Thames Estuary include a freeport at Tilbury and DP World London Gateway, one of ten proposed for the UK. As well as tariff flexibility, customs facilitations and tax measures, it will offer wider benefits such as planning reforms, funding for infrastructure improvements and innovation incentives.

Other schemes are a plan to consolidate the historic London markets of Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields into a single 42-acre site at Dagenham Docks, by 2023, creating the UK’s largest wholesale food destination. It will offer environmental benefits through the use of the rail network and River Thames to transfer goods and produce.

Tags: Thames Estuary Growth Board