Thames Estuary Production Corridor from Vision to Action

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THAMES ESTUARY PRODUCTION CORRIDOR

FROM VISION TO ACTION

1 THAMES ESTUARY PRODUCTION CORRIDOR VISION Page 1 FROM VISION TO ACTION

This report provides a summary of the strategy to unlock and maximise the potential of the Thames Estuary Production Corridor.

It marks the culmination of a year-long WHAT IS THE THAMES programme of activity which has included granular research into baseline conditions across the Estuary, and consultation with ESTUARY PRODUCTION over 200 local and external partners and stakeholders. CORRIDOR? Page 5

FOUNDATIONS AND MOMENTUM Page 7

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH Page 9

Researched and written by Hatch Regeneris, We FROM VISION TO ACTION Made That and Tom Fleming In partnership with: Page 15 Creative Consultancy. Design by Maddison Graphic.

Commissioned by the Greater London Authority and the South East LEP, in WHAT’S NEXT partnership with the Royal Page 19 Docks team and the London Boroughs of Bexley and Lewisham.

June 2019

2 3 High House Production Park, Nicholas Hare Architects. © Hufton & Crow Photography 4 5 Lewisham: Globally Significant Knowledge, Talent and Research – Goldsmiths, University of London has VISION long anchored creative activity in London, supporting the development of some of the world’s great creative talent. Today, alongside Trinity Laban, the University supports a The Thames Estuary is London’s gateway to talent and investing in new facilities and thriving graduate community as well as high quality research the world. On its banks and inland lie ancient infrastructure. in augmented reality and digital art. Now one of the Mayor of settlements, fishing harbours, resort towns, London’s first Creative Enterprise Zones and with significant industrial hubs, active and decommissioned Creativity and culture provide a common capacity to support new spaces for creative production, docks and some of the newest and fastest thread cutting across the story and evolution Lewisham can provide knowledge, space and public sector growing districts in the country. of the Estuary. This, alongside the embedded support to support sector investment and growth. economic and social networks which unite The Estuary is benefiting from unprecedented the Estuary’s places and communities, levels of regeneration investment, unlocking underpin the vision for the Thames Estuary new homes and workspaces, and Production Corridor. transforming regional and local connections. In London, it includes some of the most Launched by the Mayor of London, diverse communities in Europe, alongside Sadiq Khan, in partnership with the London areas of rapid growth and transition such Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), the as the Royal Docks, Thamesmead, Bexley South East Local Enterprise Partnership Riverside, Woolwich, Deptford, New Cross (SELEP) and the South East Creative INSIDE THE THAMES PRODUCTION CORRIDOR and Dagenham Dock. Further east across Economy Network (SECEN) in February North Kent and South Essex, towns such as 2017, the vision established a bold Margate, Ebbsfleet and Southend have been aspiration to develop a world class cluster redefining themselves around creativity and of cultural and creative production along the culture, capitalising on space, championing Thames Estuary.

“…A world class centre for production – leading global innovation, developing talent and cultivating world changing ideas”

Sadiq Khan Mayor of London

“…building local identity across East London, South Essex and the North Kent Coast, and fostering collaborative ecosystems of makers and creators”

Christian Brodie South East LEP Chairman Fashion District, East London 6 1 The vision and potential of the Thames OPPORTUNITY Estuary Production Corridor is already widely recognised. £100+bn £128m Value of UK creative Estimated supply chain sector: It has grown twice spend per annum It was highlighted as a key objective of the as fast as other sectors by London’s cultural Thames Estuary Growth Commission in its June since 2011 institutions across the UK 2018 report to Government. +20% 100,000 Average productivity per Residents across the creative SME compared to Estuary already working in In January 2019 it was awarded £4.3m from the economy average creative occupations DCMS’ Cultural Development Fund to unlock long term, transformational, culture-led growth across North Kent and South Essex FOUNDATIONS and establish the region as a creative hub connected to London, the UK, Europe and 16,000 +37% Creative and cultural Increase in the number of global markets. production businesses production businesses across the Estuary across the Estuary over the past five years And in March 2019 MHCLG announced a £350,000 grant to support master planning and £200m 65 Investment in large scale Higher and Further feasibility for key Estuary sites. production facilities across Education Institutions the Estuary over the past across the Estuary. Many decade of these specialise in creative industries

FUTURE POTENTIAL +50,000 +£3.7bn Projected number of Projected additional GVA jobs delivered by the per annum which could be Thames Estuary Production delivered by the Thames Corridor - creating the UK’s Estuary Production Corridor densest concentration of - enhancing UK productivity production activity and local prosperity

2 3 The Royal Docks: Capacity and Momentum for Rapid Growth at London’s Enterprise Zone – As London’s WHAT IS THE THAMES only Enterprise Zone, the Royal Docks is one of the Thames Estuary Production Corridor’s most important opportunities. The cluster of creative companies built up by Projekt, ESTUARY PRODUCTION including Block 9 and others, forms the basis of a larger future community of creative companies in the Royal Docks. Also home to London City Airport, the University of East London CORRIDOR? and the Excel exhibition centre, the area has assets which will

complement and enable rapid growth. Supporting the UK’s Global A Globally Significant Cluster of Competitiveness Creative and Cultural Production

The creative and cultural industries are central The Thames Estuary Production Corridor to the UK’s current and future economic is a collaboration by partners across Kent, vitality and competitiveness. With strong year Essex and London. It will transform the scale, on year growth over the past decade, they are diversity and visibility of creative and cultural now established at the heart of the economy, infrastructure. contributing in excess of £100bn per annum in total output. They have a formidable track It will secure investment in new production INSIDE THE THAMES PRODUCTION CORRIDOR record in export, attracting investment, facilities, workspaces and infrastructure, catalysing innovation and enhancing the supporting the development and evolution quality and distinctiveness of places. of stronger creative networks, clusters and places. To remain competitive, the UK’s creative and cultural economy needs to be at the vanguard It will support national economic of cluster development. However, without competitiveness, build positive community investment in space, facilities and specialist relationships. It will build resilience across skills, the UK risks losing ground to its global London, Kent and Essex. competitors. International clusters such as Shenzhen and Rotterdam are already leading It will champion the next generation of the way in 3D fabrication, virtual reality, creative talent and leadership, increasing augmented reality and robotics, and without levels of economic and social engagement proactive leadership there is a risk that long and inclusion. term vitality of the UK’s creative and cultural economy – and the 2 million jobs that it Creativity, culture and production will be the currently supports – will be undermined. new engine for the Estuary: from towns, to high streets, to industrial areas.

The Thames Estuary Production Corridor is a major project that marks a new, stronger commitment to collaboration by partners across Kent, Essex and London.

BasedSilvertown, Upon, Royal Woolwich. Docks © Based Upon 4 5 Bexley: Heritage in Performance – Rose Bruford and Bird Colleges provide Bexley with a unique offer supporting FOUNDATIONS AND the evolution of theatre production in London. Bexley benefits from a large and talented workforce, two of London’s largest opportunity areas and the potential of enhanced connections MOMENTUM to London and Kent through the opening (and potential extension) of the Elizabeth Line. The current redevelopment of the Thamesmead estate will provide new residential and Creative and cultural production activities are and the BOW Arts RAW Labs), and to smaller cultural facilities to support the evolution of the Thames already worth £3.7bn to the Thames Estuary scale creative workspaces (such as Metal in Estuary Production Corridor. economy, with more than 16,000 businesses Southend and Cockpit Arts in Deptford). supporting over 46,000 jobs. The sector has grown by over a third in recent years, outstripping national averages and exceeding World Class Creative Education the previous rate of growth across the Estuary economy. The region covered by the Thames Estuary Production Corridor is home to a dense The Estuary is a critical breeding ground network of higher and further education for new creative and cultural production, institutions. Many are renowned world with emergent cultural districts fostering leading specialists in the creative and cultural, the development of new work – in film, industries and are working together to form a INSIDE THE THAMES PRODUCTION CORRIDOR gaming, design and the arts. It performs a powerful academic curriculum and fostering an vital role in providing capacity and delivering environment of knowledge exchange. quality services to London, the preeminent global creative city. In recent years, the The Thames Estuary Production Corridor will Estuary’s cultural production activities have offer a new opportunity for knowledge sharing diversified and grown to serve much wider that is distinctive, contemporary and agile. markets – from Hollywood films to largescale From the internationally renowned activities of performance productions in China and the Goldsmiths and the London College of Fashion Middle East. in the west of the Estuary to the new Creative Production courses at Universities of Kent and Essex, the Estuary will provide a world class Unique Production Assets and Clusters educational environment dedicated to creative and innovative thinking. The Estuary is already home to a significant network of creative and cultural production hubs and assets. Over the past decade, A Renowned and Diverse Cultural Offer specialist production capacity has been boosted by investment in excess of £200 The Estuary is already seeing exciting cultural million, and significant further investment is diversity in development, including the Turner on the way. Contemporary in Margate and the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival. In the Production capacity ranges from large thrilling new developments of Royal Docks scale and highly bespoke facilities serving and East Bank, we are seeing the V&A (in a specific sector or activity (such as High partnership with the Smithsonian Institution), House Production Park in Thurrock, English Sadler’s Wells, the BBC, University College of National Ballet in London City Island, Three London and UAL’s London College of Fashion Mills Studios and Maidstone Studios), to all opening new world-class facilities. mixed-activity facilities and campuses (such as Chatham Historic Dockyard, Resort The Estuary is fast becoming one of the major Studios, the Silver Building in the Royal Docks, cultural destinations and culture-led hubs in Nucleus Arts Centre, the Underwater Studio Europe.

The Thames Estuary Production Corridor will build on and strengthen the Estuary’s existing ecosystem of creative and cultural activity and infrastructure.

Turner Contemporary, Margate. © Stephen White 6 7 Thurrock: Continued momentumMomentum for a Creative Production successSuccess storyStory –– PurfleetPurfleet inhas Thurrock become hasone becomeof THE OPPORTUNITY theone most of the important most important locations locations for creative for creative production production in the in the South East. HighHigh HouseHouse ProductionProduction ParkPark hashas providedprovided aa stimulus stimulusfor both largefor both scale large production scale production and the growth and the of growth a creative of a SME FOR GROWTH creativecommunity. SME It community.is home to the It is Bob home and to Tamar the Royal Manoukian Opera House Royal ProductionOpera House Workshop, Production the Workshop, Backstage the Centre, Backstage Kinetica Centre, and otherKinetika high-profile and other high-profileanchor tenants. anchor As Hightenants. House High continues House will While creative and cultural production is well London provides direct access to global tocontinue grow, Purfleetto grow, while,will also in Aprilbe home 2019, to Purfleetthe Media Village in established in the Estuary, there is significant creative and cultural markets, and with Purfleet,Centre Regeneration including up Limited to 135,000 received sqm crossof film party and television room for growth. growing relationships between east London, studiounanimous and post-productionapproval at the Thurrock facilities. Planning Committee Kent and Essex, the Thames Estuary for their comprehensive £1bn mixed-use Production Corridor provides an exciting new development in Purfleet. Global Competition opportunity for natural growth in networks and information sharing within the creative Cities and regions across the world are and cultural industries. This incorporates a Media Village on the Thames, prioritising investment in creative and cultural including up to 135,000 sq m of film and television production infrastructure and networks; from The availability of space, the fine grain of the studio and post-production facilities. city and region wide approaches (such as industrial landscape and the mobilisation of INSIDE THE THAMES PRODUCTION CORRIDOR the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor, creative networks make the Estuary one of and Shenzhen Maker City), to more local the most compelling locations in the UK to INSIDE THE THAMES PRODUCTION CORRIDOR approaches (such as Ile de Nantes and grow creative businesses. Hilversum Media Park). Policy makers are increasingly recognising the important role that creative and cultural industries can play Growth and Regeneration in local and national growth and prosperity. The UK needs to innovate and invest if its In addition, the investment, development and world-leading creative and cultural industries regeneration across the Estuary’s network of are to remain competitive. locations will stimulate demand for housing, commercial space and enhanced transport and digital infrastructure in the decades to come. Demand for Space The Thames Estuary Production Corridor can Across the Estuary there is proven demand play an in instrumental role in driving local for space: from larger scale production growth, vitality and identity, and in doing facilities, to smaller specialised spaces to so, support the case for new investment in support enterprise and innovation. Lack of strategic infrastructure. space for film, performing arts and gaming is stifling growth. Meanwhile, demand is stronger than ever from artists, businesses and institutions seeking new locations to scale-up and innovate.

The Thames Estuary Production Corridor will be a super- cluster of creative and cultural production, unmatched in scale, diversity and ambition. It will be one of the most compelling locations in the UK for creative businesses and institutions to invest and grow.

Acme Studios. © Hugo Glendinning 8 9 The Thames Estuary Production and cultural production facilities, assets Corridor: A Network of Creative Places and infrastructure, and a large number of Cultural Production Areas Infrastructure Projects additional projects are in development. 22 The Thames Estuary Production Corridor While a selection of these are listed overleaf, 1 Stratford 14 Grays, A Proposed will help to strengthen local identity and consultation with partners has identified many Tilbury and Rotherhithe distinctiveness, while building networks, more early stage ideas and proposals besides. 2 Poplar Corringham Bridge connections and competitiveness across The scale and breadth of this momentum 3 Deptford and 15 Gravesend B Proposed the region as a whole. The Estuary is already underpins the case for, and ambition of, the New Cross Bakerloo Line home to a diverse network of creative Thames Estuary Production Corridor. 16 Basildon Extension 4 Greenwich, Charlton and 17 Maidstone C Proposed M11 Woolwich Silvertown 18 Chatham Tunnel 5 Royal Docks 19 Sheerness D Overground 6 Barking Extension 20 Sittingbourne to Barking 7 Thamesmead 21 Southend E Proposed DLR 8 South Essex Bexley Thamesmead 22 Colchester Extension 9 Dagenham 23 Ashford F Proposed 10 Rainham Crossrail 24 Canterbury Ebbsfleet 11 Dartford East 16 Extension 25 Whitstable London 21 12 Purfleet G Proposed 9 M25 26 Folkestone Lower Thames 1 6 13 Ebbsfleet Crossing D 27 Ramsgate 10 2 5 A E 26 C 7 Margate 12 14 4 Dock Airport Motorway N 3 A Roads Rail G B 8 11 20 13 15 F 28

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10 Cultural Production Areas: Local Visions, Assets, and Projects 13 Ebbsfleet. Culture-led Canterbury Christ Church University of Kent Canterbury regeneration supports innovation with University Medway Campus space to deliver future generation University for the Creative Arts 26 Folkestone. Culture-led production activity at scale. Rochester Campus regeneration and re-branding continue 1 Stratford. Delivery of East Bank 4 Greenwich, Charlton and Bird College of Dance Sidcup University of Kent Chatham to drive the evolution of Folkestone as a alongside Here East creates a globally Woolwich. Design, culture and Rose Bruford College Sidcup G Ebbsfleet Central Ebbsfleet G Institute for Creative key node for creative and cultural activity significant hub for creative production creative embedded at the heart of large G Theatre Production Hub and Cultural Industries in the South East. and consumption. scale regeneration delivery in North Bexley 14 Grays, Tilbury and Corringham. (expansion) Chatham Greenwich and Woolwich. L Engine House Erith Town centre revitalisation supported L Centre for Contemporary Creative Folkestone Quarter Here East Queen Elizabeth L Place and Making Institute by an increasingly visible presence of Dance (expansion) Chatham Folkestone Olympic Park Trinity Laban Conservatoire Erith cultural and creative production. L Dockyard ‘Interface land’ Creative Folkestone Triennial 3 Mills Studios Bromley-by-Bow of Music and Dance Greenwich Chatham Folkestone Loughborough University Queen Campus 9 Dagenham. Realisation of The Performers College, L Nucleus Chatham Elizabeth Olympic Park University of Greenwich East Brook studios, creates an Corringham L Chatham Intra Chatham 27 Margate. The southern foreshore UCL East at East Bank (2021) Greenwich Campus internationally significant hub for film L Tilbury Cruise Terminal Tilbury L Chatham Waters Gillingham Estuary hub for arts, creative and digital Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Ravensbourne Greenwich Peninsula and television production. L Bata Factory East Tilbury L Sheerness Dockyard Church production and education. UAL’s London College of G Woolwich Creative District L Thameside Theatre and Sheerness Fashion at East Bank (2022) Woolwich G East Brook Studios - Made Complex Grays L Sheerness Docks Sheerness Resort Studios Margate Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park G Greenwich Design District in Dagenham Dagenham L Coalhouse Fort East Tilbury Turner Contemporary Margate G East Bank Queen Elizabeth Greenwich L East London Works 21 Southend. The northern foreshore L RESORT Studios Margate Olympic Park L Thames-Side Studios Dagenham 15 Gravesend. Realisation of Estuary hub for arts, creative and digital L Sands Heritage Margate Woolwich creative workspaces at Customs House production and education. L Margate Makerspace Margate 2 Poplar. Economic identity L Charlton Riverside 10 Rainham. Development of Centre and the Henley Building deliver visible becomes synonymous with clothing Masterplan Charlton for Manufacturing and Engineering in creative production in the town centre. Metal and NetPark Southend 28 Ramsgate. Art and co- design, production and manufacturing L Charlton Riverside Rainham building identity around future Focal Point Southend commissioning supports further through the Fashion District. Masterplan Charlton industry. L Customs House Gravesend University of Essex Southend town centre renewal, complementing L Henley Building / Northfleet University of Essex Southend developments at Margate. Trinity Buoy Wharf Leamouth 5 Royal Docks. A new hub for Centre for Engineering and Embankment area Gravesend G Metal (ongoing development) English National Ballet London creative and enterprise collaboration Manufacturing Excellence, L Gravesend Canal Basin Southend Spacer Ramsgate City Island anchored by the Enterprise Zone, Rainham Gravesend L Forum 2 Southend Queen Mary University of Millennium Mills and Silver Building - L Bretons Manor House Parks L Swanscombe peninsular L New Studios Beecroft, Southend London Mile End Campus it will incubate creative production for and Clusters, Rainham Swanscombe L Airport Business Park Southend Key L Poplar Works Fashion District, the whole estuary. L Old Fire Station Hadleigh 16 Poplar 11 Dartford. Town centre re- Basildon. Supply chain and L Better Queensway Southend Major Production Facilities L Tobacco Dock Shadwell Silver Building Royal Docks branding and re-modelling focusing grassroots activities are supported L Southend High Street Southend and Local Anchors: existing Bow Arts RAW Labs Royal Albert on placemaking, creative meanwhile through new town centre facilities and spaces and projects which have 22 3 Deptford and New Cross. Wharf uses and establishing the future of the through further diversification from Colchester. Home to University been identified as playing an Creative Enterprise Zone status and University of East London Royal Orchard Theatre. traditional manufacturing to creative and of Essex, with growing AR/VR and The important role in underpinning action plan shapes economy to focus Docks cultural production. Games Hub. Rapid creative SME. the Estuary’s creative and cultural on creative activity and the existing L North Kent College (Miskin ecosystem. spark created by university spin outs G Silvertown Quays Creative Centre) Dartford The Underwater Studio Basildon Mercury Theatre (with increasingly evolves to realise the District Royal Docks L Orchard Theatre and G Basildon Town Centre forthcoming redevelopment) Higher and Sector Specialist opportunity of Goldsmith’s specialism shopping centre Dartford Regeneration Basildon Colchester Education Institutions: current in Augmented Reality. 6 Barking. Developments focused L Dartford Northern Gateway L Innovation Warehouse, Watt 37 Queen Street Colchester and proposed education institutions on artists and makers catalyse further Development Sites Dartford Tyler/ town centre Basildon which have a crucial role to play in Goldsmiths University of activity and support the area to become Firstsite Gallery Colchester developing talent, driving research 17 London New Cross a viable place for them to live and work. 12 Purfleet. Evolution of Royal Maidstone. Existing strengths University of Essex Colchester and innovation, and supporting Trinity Laban Conservatoire Opera House and High House in film and television production will sector development. of Music and Dance and The L A House for Artists Barking Production Park alongside Purfleet strengthen and, alongside other 23 Ashford. New Creative Laboratory Albany Media Village an internationally developments (e.g. Kent Medical anchored by Jasmin Vardimon Company Future Creative and G SHAPES Lewisham, Creative 7 Thamesmead. Cultural-led significant hub for film, TV and Campus), support higher value will drive change supported by further Cultural Projects – projects in Enterprise Zone Deptford and regeneration supports residential and games post-production. Growth employment. site capacity. development or delivery which New Cross workspace opportunities for creative is accompanied by investment in are supporting the continued L Goldsmiths Enterprise Hub freelancers and SMEs. The Place and producing theatre and workspaces. The Underwater Studio Basildon Jasmin Vardimon Dance growth and evolution of the Deptford and New Cross Making Institute provides a focal point Greater London. Laboratory Ashford Estuary’s creative and cultural L Deptford Foundry, Creative for maker collaboration and education 18 19 20 Chatham, Sheerness sector. These include: Enterprise Zone Deptford and in the Estuary. High House Production Park and Sittingbourne. Chatham 24 25 Canterbury and Whitstable. G Growth Engines: Larger New Cross Purfleet (plus future development of becomes established as a regionally Economic identity becomes established scale initiatives which have the L Horniman Museum Creative L Bow Arts Lakeside Centre gap sites) important cultural hub through expansion around art, design and crafts alongside potential to be transformational Hub Forest Hill Thamesmead The National College for of the Centre for Contemporary Arts and an increasing emphasis on innovation, in supporting the development of L Convoys Wharf and New L Plumstead Power Station Creative Industries the creation of the Institute for Creative led by the Canterbury Christ Church the sector Bermondsey Masterplan Plumstead University of the Arts London, and Cultural Industries. University and the University of Kent. L Local Sparks: Smaller Deptford South Essex College and the scale projects supporting the L Artworks Creekside Deptford 8 Bexley. Theatre Making Centre Royal Opera House Costume Historic Dockyard Chatham Canterbury Christ Church development of creative, cultural L Lewisham Creative supports national touring productions, Construction Degree Purfleet Chatham University Canterbury Campus and production activities in the Enterprise Zone Programme building upon the strength of Rose G Media Village PurfleetPurfleet University of Greenwich Chatham University for the Creative Arts Estuary’s places. New Cross and Deptford Bruford and Bird Colleges North Kent. G Purfleet CentrePurfleet Campus Canterbury Campus

12 13 Chatham: Digital Evolution and a Diverse Knowledge Hub – Chatham Dockyard has evolved FROM VISION TO ACTION into a hub for creative and digital activity for Kent. Anchored by established companies such as Dovetail Games and with significant new workspace provision The delivery approach for the Thames to deliver much needed capacity and at the Joiners Shop, the capacity for growth is Estuary Production Corridor will build on specialism to the UK’s creative economy. significant. The area’s offer is enhanced still further by the significant momentum which has been the presence of the three universities each providing achieved over the past 18 months. Delivery of the vision will require collaborative courses and research to directly support creative planning across the sub-region, leverage of production. Initial investment of over £4.6m from the investment into larger production facilities, Department for Digital, Culture, Media ongoing development of clusters and and Sports and the Ministry of Housing, networks, and action to embed culture and Communities and Local Government creativity as central to inclusive growth and demonstrates confidence in the opportunity local place shaping.

INSIDE THE THAMES PRODUCTION CORRIDOR Action Area 1. Enabling the Thames Estuary Production Corridor

Estuary-wide action to help to forge the identity of the Thames Estuary Production Corridor, broker collaboration and network development, and provide the foundations for talent development. Immediate focus should be placed on:

1.1 Promoting the Thames Estuary Production Corridor. Example priorities include developing:

• A strong global brand to stimulate inward investment • A strategic communication campaign • Exemplary cultural programming to highlight activity across the region • Thames Estuary Production Corridor champions.

1.2 Developing pan-Estuary networks across higher and further education, sector representatives and business, to lay the basis for collaboration, policy development and investment. Example priorities include:

• Creating a shared Higher Education and Further Education prospectus with a focus on creative and cultural production activities, working with the 65 providers and the Culture Education Forum South East • Encouraging R&D and knowledge exchange within creative clusters • Improving the quality and diversity of the local talent pipeline • Publishing an integrated Creative Production Skills Strategy for the Estuary.

Metal Culture LAB - exploring Occulus Rift and other technologies 14 15 Ebbsfleet: Connected sites at the UK’s new Garden City – Only 17 minutes from Kings Cross Action Area 2. and 10 minutes to Stratford. Ebbsfleet is one of the biggest development projects in the UK, already home Securing Investment in the Thames Estuary to a growing skilled population and with the benefit of being part of an Enterprise Zone. The area is home to Production Corridor significant development sites with current proposals for a major entertainment resort on Swanscombe Peninsula Coordinating, securing and delivering investment to strengthen strategic and local production and ambitions to build culture into all aspects of the new clusters. Immediate focus should be placed on: development. 2.1 Supporting large-scale cultural and creative production clusters to grow, diversify and extend their reach regionally, nationally and globally. Priorities include:

• Working with partners across the Estuary to identify sites for creative production – across high streets, industrial locations and regeneration and growth areas • Development of cross-area masterplans which build cultural production into development plans for sites across the Estuary • Investing in flagship cultural production projects (Growth Engines) • Increasing scale and developing specialist facilities within existing clusters. INSIDE THE THAMES PRODUCTION CORRIDOR 2.2 Smaller scale, local creative and cultural projects and networks should be supported to develop production capacity. Priorities include:

• Investing in local masterplan and feasibility studies • Strengthening local activity to amplify production capacity • Investing in new production spaces in under-used buildings on the High Street • Working with micro and small businesses to help them scale up.

Action Area 3. Growing the Thames Estuary

3.1 Joint working across the Estuary to secure alignment in plan and policy development, and to foster closer collaboration in lobbying and case making. Priorities should include:

• Positioning the Thames Estuary Production Corridor as a priority for the Thames Estuary Growth board agenda • Collaborating across the sub-region to undertake joint master-planning of opportunities and sites • Working with central government and local partners to secure investment in strategic transport infrastructure. Strengthening the competitiveness of our network of places and production clusters. • Advocating for the roll out of full fibre and a 5G network across the Estuary. Working with local, regional and government partners to secure prioritised investment.

Technical theatre facilities at Rose Bruford College. © Michael O’Reilly 16 17 Southend on Sea: Tech City on Sea The town has long been home to a vibrant grassroots WHAT’S NEXT cultural community which has been nurtured through a strong heritage and enablers of cultural production such as Metal. Southend is now diversifying and is identified The Thames Estuary Production Corridor However, to achieve its potential, the Thames by Tech Nation as one of the UK’s up and coming digital Steering Group is responsible for the vision Estuary Production Corridor will require hubs. Its offer is underpinned by ever improving public and delivery strategy, leading on identity and collaboration, innovation and commitment transport links to London, a growing, skilled workforce network development, and coordinating cross from all partners. and public investment in wider economic infrastructure. area masterplanning and feasibility work to stimulate new production investment. Call to Action

The London Economic Positioning the Thames Estuary Production Corridor at Action Partnership, the the heart of economic strategy; consistent messaging to Greater London Authority support a coherent identity and South East Local INSIDE THE THAMES PRODUCTION CORRIDOR Enterprise Partnership

Central government Active participation in governance and advocacy; promotion to international inward investor markets; investment in digital infrastructure; commitment to enhanced transport; investment in town centres to Emergency Exit Arts, Greenwich, © EEA facilitate an enhanced role for creative production on the high street.

Higher and further Commitment to working collaboratively with sector education institutions partners across Estuary; providing greater access to facilities to boost innovation and collaboration; supporting the development of new learning opportunities to build the creative workforce

Sector and cluster Collaboration in local and pan-Estuary networks; using representatives and networks and connections to help build and project business common messaging regarding local creative strengths and opportunity

Developers and investors Advocacy of the vision; openness to testing new ideas and ways of working; integration of specialist cultural production facilities in new developments; leverage of connections and specialist expertise

Local government Supporting the vision within strategic policy; leading on spatial masterplanning and strategy development to support the development of local production clusters

Get in Touch

For more information or to find out how you can get involved, please contact: The Greater London Authority Culture Team: [email protected] The South East Creative Economy Network: [email protected]

THE THAMES

ESTUARY

PRODUCTION

CORRIDOR

The world’s largest

creative production corridor,

growing along the world’s

most famous river estuary

THAMES

ESTUARY

PRODUCTION

CORRIDOR

FROM VISION

TO ACTION

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THAMES ESTUARY PRODUCTION CORRIDOR

FROM VISION TO ACTION

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