Thames Estuary Development Conference

Thames Estuary Growth Board – Kate Willard OBE, Thames Estuary Envoy and Chair

Kate is leading the charge to make the Thames Estuary the UK’s clean growth focal point by activating a high investment, high innovation, hydro economy. Going forward, Kate is keen to move away from the planning and focusing on the delivery of projects. Joining the conference to update delegates on everything from policy to upcoming new regeneration initiatives that the board are going to back.

Turnstone Estates – Tim Deacon, Director

Turnstone Estates are planning to turn the Seaway Car park, Southend into a £50 million Seaway Leisure Complex which will include an IMAX Cinema, bowling alley, climbing wall, restaurants, 80 room hotel and 555 parking spaces. The project has a GVA of £15 million per year and create up to 550 new jobs. The project is more important than ever and will play a vital part in the economic recovery of Southend and the wider Thames Estuary.

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation – Ian Piper, Chief Executive

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation are behind the planned Ebbsfleet Garden City, a major new community on the banks of the Thames. Earlier this year they made a major land purchase, the 125 ha Ebbsfleet Central site which will allow many of the promised 15,000 homes to be delivered. The development will enable 32,000 new homes to be created, and a £7.4 million “green corridor” of active transport routes is planned.

Lendlease – Bek Seeley, European Managing Director of Development

More information to follow.

Port of London Authority – Robin Mortimer, Chief Executive

Robin Mortimer, CEO at the Port for London Authority, will cover the potential for the Thames to support the green recovery, from opportunities for transport and freight logistics supporting construction and last mile deliveries to its role as a natural asset, abundant with wildlife.  Robin will also outline how the Thames port sector, with the largest terminals in areas of multiple deprivation, also provides essential economic buoyancy and job opportunities for local communities.

Swan Housing – Duncan Innes, Project Director

Swan Housing are a major housing association managing over 11,000 homes and aiming to deliver another 10,000 by 2027. They are part of a joint venture with Urban Catalyst to carry out a £1 billion housing led regeneration of Purfleet town centre. Duncan will discuss the project, which will see 2,850 new homes delivered.

Peabody – John Lewis, Executive Director, Thamesmead

Peabody are one of the country’s largest housing associations and manage more than 66,000 homes across London and the South East. They are partnered with Lendlease to build more than 11,000 homes in an £8 billion project to regenerate Thamesmead. John will share details on the project, and the new community it will create.

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham – Lisa Dee, Head of Film

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham along with partners including BeFirst and Hackman Capital Partners are working to bring two new studio sites, with 18 sound stages in total to the borough. The two projects are expected to bring a combined £350 million to the area and create the potential for 1,800 new jobs as well as investment in training and educational programmes in the local area. Lisa will provide an update on the exciting project and how it fits into the wider creative estuary programme.

Environment Agency – Cantor Mocke, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, London

The sea level is predicted to rise by at least 90cm, and peak river flows are projected to rise by up to 40% by 2100. Thousands of new homes and business are planned for the Thames Estuary, many of which will be built on flood plains. As a result the Environment Agency has come up with the Thames Estuary 2100 plan to ensure the area is future proofed. The cost for the first 25 years of the plan has been estimated at £1.5 billion and Cantor will be talking about how this plan will protect the Estuary from the changes that will happen over the next 100 years.

University of Greenwich – Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor

The university are in the middle of their 5 year estates masterplan and which includes maintenance and development of some of the historic buildings that make up their campus. Professor Harrington will provide an update on the masterplan and how it will progress over the coming year.

Arcadis – Peter Hogg, UK Cities Director

Peter is Arcadis’ UK Cities Director and City Executive for London, accountable for key activity across the UK’s leading cities and in the capital. He also leads for Arcadis on Placemaking. A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors with 24 years’ industry experience, he has a keen understanding of how to align built and natural assets to the vision, strategy and key priorities of our clients. He has a particular interest in creating successful cities.

Peter has been involved in some of London’ biggest infrastructure programmes of recent years including the Jubilee Line Extension, St Pancras International Station and Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

Urban Catalyst – Ken Dytor, Founder and Executive Chairman

Urban Catalyst are integral to regeneration and placemaking in the Thames Estuary, being responsible for the £1 billion Purfleet Centre Regeneration in partnership with Swan Housing and Thurrock Council. The multi-year scheme which will see an eventual 2,850 new homes alongside a vibrant town centre with shops, a new health centre, improved railway and transport facilities and employment and training opportunities developed was begun earlier this year. Ken is a central figure in the Thames Estuary project and will lend his expertise to the discussion.

Creative Estuary – Sarah Dance, Chair

Sarah is Chair of Creative Estuary, which is leading the Thames Estuary Production Corridor project. The project will add £3.4bn to the Estuary’s economy, create over 16,000 jobs and elevate the region to become a world leading cultural powerhouse. As Chair of the Creative Estuary, Sarah is helming a consortium of public sector and cultural organisations which will transform the visibility, identity and future of the area’s creative production infrastructure.

Far East Consortium – John Connolly, Head of UK Development

Far East Consortium are a leading international residential and mixed-use developer with big plans for the Thames Estuary, as well as other locations across the UK. They are planning a £250 million residential-led scheme in Canary Wharf, which will sit on a 49,000 square foot site opposite their ongoing Consort Place project – which comprises 634 residential units and a 230 room hotel. John will discuss their latest project, which will bring their total investment in the Estuary region to £750 million.

TTL Properties – Peter Elliott, Head of Property Development

Vattenfall Heat UK – Adriana Rodriguez Cobas, Regional Director, South UK

Adriana is an energy professional with 12 years’ experience in the industry, she joined Vattenfall in 2018 to set up the heat business and operations in the UK, bringing Vattenfall’s experience in energy infrastructure development and operations from Sweden, Germany and Netherlands.

Adriana is the Regional Director for England and Wales, she leads the team delivering the heat infrastructure and route to zero carbon for Argent Related’s Brent Cross Town in Barnett, as well as the partnership with Cory Riverside Energy to deliver low carbon heat to new and existing developments in East London.