Thames Estuary: The capital corridor

The Thames Estuary, stretching from capital to coast, has arguably the UK’s greatest economic potential. However, while the success of Canary Wharf and London’s docklands development is clearly evident, government support for regeneration and growth further along the estuary has waxed and waned in recent years. Local partners in Kent and Essex have achieved significant success, but game-changing commitment and investment from central government has remained elusive. From the perspective of democratic leadership, this paper is prompted by Sir John Armitt’s Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission (Sir John taking over the chairmanship from Lord Heseltine in 2017) and the opportunity for a renewed focus on the area and direct support from government to unlock its true potential. It examines recent strategic approaches and local successes, the potential that remains for perhaps Europe’s largest brownfield development area, and the challenge of local governance. It recognises the need to attract new private sector investment in supporting a dynamic and varied economy, with public funding still limited. It considers the potential of developing new growth corridors and clusters within the estuary for the creative and life science sectors and the connectivity to support growth. Fundamentally, it addresses the challenge of promoting the estuary’s potential while looking both ways: internally to government for recognition and support, and externally for international investment and growth.