Creating sustainable communities Delivering the Thames Gateway Contents
Thames Gateway – our commitment 1
Development and renewal 9
Environment 22
Transport 27
Sustainable homes 32
Tackling disadvantage 37
Health 42
Education, skills and employment 47
Delivering the Gateway 52
Annex A – The planning framework 62
Annex B – Contacts and glossary 64 Thames Gateway – our commitment Introduction by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
When we flew over the Thames Gateway The Thames Gateway is a project of such eighteen months ago, we saw Europe's scale and complexity that it can only be largest regeneration opportunity, a huge delivered with the full commitment of the area of brownfield land on the doorstep Government as a whole. That’s why we of London. From the City of London to are already spending £6 billion across Southend and Sheppey, the Gateway Government to create high quality encompasses areas of affluence as sustainable communities in the Gateway. well as pockets of disadvantage. And our spending is unlocking billions of pounds of investment by the private sector For decades, successive Governments and our partners in local authorities. have looked to the East of London and pondered how to make the most of Together, we are providing the transport We are greening the Gateway so that the opportunity to regenerate land and infrastructure, schools and hospitals, we actually enhance the environmental renew existing communities. It's only so that we create communities rather amenity of the area with new parks, now, with the Government's Sustainable than soulless housing estates and nature reserves and sporting facilities. Communities Plan, that we are really avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. We are minimising flood risk by putting getting to grips with the tremendous We are investing to improve existing in place a strong planning framework. potential of the Gateway to deliver towns and cities and create better quality And we are raising the skills and sustainable growth. new development and open space. aspirations of local people to provide them with greater opportunity.
1 For decades, Governments have failed to Our proposals for regeneration and the transport schemes we identified provide enough homes in London and the responsible growth in the Thames then, including high speed Javelin South East. The Barker Report on Housing Gateway were launched in July 2003. trains between Kent and London, Supply underlined the consequences of Since then, a lot has been done and and added a range of projects failing to meet housing need. If we are there's real momentum. This document paid for by our new £200 million to meet this housing need responsibly provides an update of what we have Community Infrastructure Fund; and sustainably, and provide for continued achieved so far and describes our G A ground breaking financial prosperity, we must seize the opportunity priorities for the future. It demonstrates settlement for the Mayor of London offered by this huge area of brownfield the long term, cross-Government approach which has enabled him to commit land and bring it back into productive use. we are taking and the levels of financial in his Five Year Business Plan to commitment the Government has made. The Gateway will provide a choice of transport schemes such as the homes. These need to be well-designed In July 2003, we said that improvements in Thames Gateway transits and and affordable for families and people on strategic transport were critical to facilitate extensions to the Docklands moderate incomes. In the Gateway, we growth. We are delivering: Light Railway. expect 80% of new homes will be built on G A further £400 million for transport derelict, brownfield land and a new Code projects, in addition to the £600 for Sustainable Buildings will be in use to million previously allocated. deliver better environmental performance We’ve made progress with all and lower running costs.
2 We said that we would improve schools, We said we would enable the development We said that a high quality environment colleges and healthcare. We are delivering: of 120 000 homes. We are delivering: and access to green space were essential to make the Gateway an attractive place G £60 million investment in Primary G An increase in new homes being built to live. We are delivering: Care Trusts across the four Growth in local authorities in the Gateway, Areas to help them plan for growth from 7769 in 2002/03 to 9368 in G A strategic vision for green in health provision; 2003/04; spaces, set out in our publication, Greening the Gateway, and a G £40 million investment in three G Agreement between the three follow-up Implementation Plan, new universities and colleges in regional planning bodies, in the which explains how the vision Southend, Medway and Royal Docks. Inter-Regional Planning Statement, will be translated into reality; Together with our support for the that the Gateway has the potential Learning and Skills Councils, this for 128 500 homes, spread across G 80% of new development on will equip people with the right skills London, North Kent and South Essex; brownfield land, protecting to take up new jobs in the Gateway. valuable greenfield space; G New home ownership initiatives to Over the long term, we expect up help people on moderate incomes – G A strengthened planning framework to 180 000 jobs to be created. such as key workers, first time buyers which will ensure local authorities and tenants of social housing – own take account of flood risk in their their own homes, providing housing development frameworks and in choice across the Gateway. planning decisions.
3 We said that we would establish a We said that we would invest Government G In Stratford and the Lower Lea, the new delivery structure for the Gateway. funding in the Gateway to facilitate growth Stratford City development of 7000 We have established: and regeneration. We are delivering: new homes and 750 000 square metres of commercial development, G A new ODPM Thames Gateway G £475 million from the Thames two schools and a health centre Delivery Unit, on site in the Gateway, Gateway Programme Fund for has received outline planning to drive forward action; projects that will support growth and permission. Work is expected regeneration, improving the quality G Two Urban Development to start on site by 2006. of life for existing and new residents. Corporations in East London Our budget over the five years to G In Greenwich Peninsula, a whole and Thurrock; 2008 is £850 million; new community is being created G A network of seven regeneration around a new school and health G £6 billion across Government as partnerships to coordinate activity centre and accessible open space. a whole to ensure the delivery of at the local level and involve local The Dome will provide a major sustainable communities. communities in the regeneration sports and entertainment venue. of their areas. In July 2003, we also identified five The award-winning Greenwich strategic development locations where Millennium Village is already in major change would occur. Since then, place and planning permission we have made real progress: has been granted for 10 000 new homes.
4 G In London Riverside, we have entered G In North Kent Thameside, major And there is an additional focus on into a public-private joint venture to challenges remain in relation to the Medway. In Rochester Riverside, we develop the site of an old power capacity of the trunk road network to are creating a new community on the station and waste tip at Barking cope with growth. We are resolving site of a gas works. The river has Reach, London’s largest brownfield these. Our commitment to new high high biological diversity and we site. A masterplanned development speed services linking Ebbsfleet and are being careful to preserve that. is planned of up to 10 800 homes, Stratford to central London in 2009 In Chatham, we have funded the a school and community facilities and the construction of Phase One adaptation of historic buildings for which would allow local people of Fastrack, a new segregated bus use as a new university’s campus. access to the riverfront for the system linking up developments But this is just the beginning. The first time in decades. across the area, will support the Government is putting in place the development of major sites such G In Thurrock, the new Thurrock infrastructure and investment in people as Ebbsfleet which already have Thames Gateway Development which will deliver sustainable communities approval for 700 000 square metres Corporation will shortly embark in the Thames Gateway in the longer term. of development, including offices on a package of land acquisition and homes. By 2010: to facilitate housing and job growth. G At least 60 000 new homes will be built across the Gateway, helping to make home ownership more affordable for local residents and key workers;
5 G New high speed trains will reduce G There will be a well-used green network G All residents will have access to high journey times between central London which links up communities through high quality healthcare, reducing health and Stratford to seven minutes; to quality green space. inequalities across the area; Ebbsfleet to 17 minutes; and connect By 2016: G We will have protected, enhanced to Medway and, of course, to Europe; and added to the 53 000 hectares of G At least 120 000 homes will be built G East London will have a new network of greenspace in the Gateway – equivalent across the Gateway, of which at least public transport including the Docklands to the size of the Greater Manchester 35% will be affordable for rent or Light Railway extension to Woolwich, urban area – and increased accessibility for purchase by first time buyers and the Thames Gateway transit. for local residents; including key workers; The Mayor of London is considering the G All the major strategic locations in the feasibility of a Docklands Light Railway G 180 000 new jobs will provide local Gateway (which include large areas of extension to Dagenham Dock and how residents more choice as to where derelict and contaminated brownfield that sits alongside other priorities; they live and work; land) will have been substantially G The Learning and Skills Council will G A much higher proportion of residents developed, providing a mix of have a funded action plan in place to will have achieved NVQ Level 3 skills homes, jobs and amenities in enable residents to improve their skills; standards, helping them obtain jobs with new sustainable communities. better prospects. We will have raised G The Code for Sustainable Buildings will the aspirations of those living and be in use by developers, raising the working in the Gateway; environmental standards of housing;
6 Our strategic vision
Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all.
Our aim is to use growth to regenerate Our key principles are to: and develop the Thames Gateway in a sustainable way. We want to create an G Support good quality, sustainable G Ensure that infrastructure and local attractive environment where people development that integrates services are in place when the will choose to live, work and spend successfully with existing communities; community needs them; their leisure time. G Return derelict and contaminated G See that investment and change brownfield land to productive use; respond closely to the needs of all residents and promotes social inclusion; G Preserve and enhance the Gateway’s rich environmental and cultural heritage; G Respect and develop the diversity of Gateway communities. G Promote the prosperity and vitality of town centres and local businesses; 7 The Gateway will provide sustainable communities which are:
G Active, inclusive and safe – fair, G Environmentally sensitive – providing G Thriving – with a flourishing and tolerant and cohesive with a strong places for people to live that are diverse local economy; local culture and other shared considerate of the environment; G Well served – with public, private, community activities; G Well designed and built – featuring a community and voluntary services that G Well run – with effective and inclusive quality built and natural environment; are appropriate to people's needs and participation, representation and accessible to all; and G Well connected – with good transport leadership; services and communications linking G Fair for everyone – including those in people to jobs, schools, health and other communities, now and in the future.
8 other services; Development and renewal
The Thames Gateway is a very diverse In these areas, the focus for public In addition, we are investing in five area, from heavily populated East London sector investment will be land assembly, urban renewal areas. Interventions in to the towns and seaside resorts of South remediation and redevelopment – primarily these areas will take advantage of the Essex and North Kent. in partnership with the private sector – to opportunities presented for growth to provide the infrastructure, amenities and regenerate existing urban areas. Here, the In July 2003, the Government identified environment necessary to create investment agenda is to consolidate these five strategic development locations sustainable communities for existing and centres, improve the local environment which contain a high proportion of the new residents. Development will be based and public services for existing residents, Gateway’s supply of brownfield land, but around anchor points – places such as and promote opportunities for sustainable also offer good access to employment, schools and other community facilities – housing and employment growth. supported by Government’s investment which provide a focus to the community in transport and other infrastructure. and make the area an attractive place Since then, we have identified an to be. additional strategic location, Medway, which has the capacity for significant housing and employment growth and will also benefit from improved transport links with London from 2009.
9 Strategic locations and key housing sites in the Thames Gateway
Homes Planned ! Stratford, Lower Lea and the Royal Docks
100 - 2000 ! Greenwich Peninsula and Woolwich ! London Riverside 2001 - 5000 ! Thurrock ! North Kent Thameside 5001 - 10700
Produced by Thames Gateway Delivery Unit ODPM Using the Ordnance Survey 2002 boundary line data, with the Sanction of the Controller of HM Stationary Office ! Medway Waterfront Licence no. 100018986 10 Crown Copyright Reserved 2004 Stratford, Lower Lea and the Royal Docks This area has potential for about 20 000 new homes and 15 000 new jobs by the end of 2016, building on its good transport links and proximity to Canary Wharf. Several major projects are already well advanced, and a number of other significant developments are proposed for adjoining areas including Canning Town and the riverside.
Stratford City, the proposed new regional centre, now has legacy of first class sporting, transport and community Close by, over 400 new homes have been developed planning consent. The focus of the scheme, the Channel facilities and will accelerate the delivery of new homes at Gallions Point, and Minoco Wharf will be released Tunnel Rail Link station, opens in 2007. Permission has and jobs already planned for the Lower Lea Valley. from safeguarded wharf status which will unlock future been granted for about 7000 homes to be built from 2008, The new facilities will include an aquatic centre and development. These and other major developments along with a primary and secondary school, health velopark, which will go ahead regardless of the in the Royal Docks will benefit from Docklands Light centre, and over 750 000 square metres of business, outcome of the bid. Railway extensions to City Airport in 2005 and retail and hotel uses, with capacity to provide 34 000 jobs. Woolwich in 2009. In March 2005, London Borough of Newham granted Adjoining Stratford, outline planning consent has also planning permission, subject to legal agreements, for a
been granted for the development of the proposed new district centre at Silvertown Quays. As well as nearly Olympic park. Should London’s bid for the 2012 Olympic 5000 new homes, a school, health centre and library, the
and Paralympic Games be successful, the development planning application includes a world class aquarium which would be a major tourist attraction by 2008. of the Olympic park will provide local communities with a Strategic development locations development Strategic 11 London Thames Gateway Development Corporation Canning Town
Chaired by Lorraine Baldry, the new Urban Development Corporation will take forward regeneration and growth in two Canning Town in Newham is one of the most deprived strategic development locations – Lower Lea and London Riverside, incorporating Barking town centre. It will build on areas in the country. It is one of three areas in England the success of Canary Wharf and the excitement of the Olympics’ bid, working closely with partners across the private, where the Government is testing out more intensive public and voluntary sectors. approaches to achieving neighbourhoods with a more sustainable mix of tenures and incomes and addressing With powers on planning and land assembly, the Development Corporation will focus on the challenging cross- the problems of worklessness, low skills, crime, poor borough brownfield development opportunities where an exceptional level of strategic intervention is required to environment and poor health. facilitate development. London Borough of Newham has listened to the The Development Corporation will take planning powers for large planning applications by the summer of 2005, priorities of local people and has produced a masterplan and by the turn of the year aims to have achieved consensus on, and adopted an overarching strategy for, its for the area – the Canning Town and Custom House area and regeneration frameworks for the Lower Lea and London Riverside. It will have specific milestones, Regeneration Project. This envisages a revitalised town targets and outcomes to achieve in its Business and Corporate Plans. These will relate to its roles of setting centre combining retail, commercial, leisure space, new the strategic framework within which regeneration in its area takes place and co-ordinating and monitoring community facilities and housing, and an improved road implementation of strategic developments and projects across the area. infrastructure. The plan calls for an innovative and high quality approach to urban design and landscaping, capitalising on the area’s riverside location. In all, the plan identifies potential for 7000 mixed tenure homes over the long term.
Drawing on best practice, the aim is to ensure that housing improvements are matched by enhanced opportunities for residents. This work will be led by local stakeholders, with close support from Government. 12 London Riverside 800 hectares of land along the riverfront in Barking and Dagenham and Havering has the potential to provide 20 000 new homes and 25 000 jobs, bringing back into use land that has lain vacant for up to 20 years.
Barking Riverside Ltd, a joint venture company formed Other major schemes are proposed to provide about 10 000 new homes at South Dagenham and Rainham, by English Partnerships and Bellway Homes, applied while 900 new homes have already been built by Bellway at Barking Reach. for planning permission in December 2004 to redevelop Employment growth is also being promoted through the business park at Beam Reach, the Centre for 179 hectares of land for 10 800 mixed tenure homes. Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence at Barking Reach, and at Dagenham Dock and other locations. A significant proportion would be for social rent and key workers. Public transport is being improved through over £25 million public investment in better local road systems, the Ferry Lane link road bridge, interchange stations at Dagenham Dock and Rainham. In addition the The masterplan includes a primary school and over East London Transit will be extended by 2007 (first phase), and an extension of the Docklands Light Railway 70 hectares of open space for the community, with two to Dagenham Dock is also being considered. kilometres of riverfront and a network of cycle links, footpaths, parks and sports areas. After extensive Improvement works to Barking town centre will complement this growth. consultation, many of the suggestions made by local residents have been incorporated in the plan.
13 Greenwich Peninsula and Woolwich After many years of disuse, a number of major sites along the riverfront between Deptford Creek and Thamesmead are now actively being developed or are in advanced stages of planning to provide about 25 000 new homes – not including the redevelopment of parts of Thamesmead to benefit existing residents. The developments will include new or improved public walkways along the river and key elements of the infrastructure needed to support sustainable new communities.
The historic Royal Arsenal 30 hectare site lay unused from 1967. Ownership passed Comprehensive improvements to bus and rail links are proposed to support the new to the London Development Agency, which has invested over £1 million to help plan Docklands Light Railway station. In the meantime, work is being completed to convert sustainable redevelopment. Work on 1200 homes started in 2001 and is due for redundant offices in the town centre into over 300 homes, and another 300 homes are completion in 2010. A masterplan for an adjacent mixed use scheme including 3000 on site at Mastpond Wharf, next to Woolwich Ferry. new homes, with 35% affordable, and about 1000 jobs in commercial, health and Greenwich Millennium Village has planning approval for 1377 homes, and 670 are community uses is currently being considered. The new Waterfront Transit system already occupied, along with a school, health centre and ecology park. Planning and Docklands Light Railway extension will serve the site from 2008 and 2009, permission has now been sought for a further 1579 homes. supporting the existing mainline train station only 300 metres from the site. In 2004 planning approval was granted for the Dome to be converted into a major The Arsenal site adjoins Woolwich town centre, which is proposed to benefit entertainment venue, and for 10 000 homes to be developed on adjacent land. directly from investment as part of the masterplan as well as Government’s Work is due to start on site by early 2006. 24 000 jobs are expected by about 2020. Single Regeneration Budget programme and will encourage retail investment.
14 Thurrock Situated at the heart of the Thames Gateway, Thurrock covers an area of 165 square kilometres with over 28 kilometres of riverside. Strategically positioned on several key transport corridors, Thurrock’s local economy is founded on international trade, through its ports and the shipping industry, together with logistics and retailing. South of the A13 are a number of large and important industrial sites, with more scattered rural communities in the north of the borough.
Extensive brownfield sites dominate Thurrock's riverfront To ensure these opportunities are seized and the area’s deprivation addressed, Thurrock Thames Gateway and provide some of the greatest residential, commercial Development Corporation, chaired by Will McKee, is developing a wide reaching strategy for the comprehensive and industrial development opportunities in the country. regeneration of the area. Over the last 12 months the Development Corporation has completed a baseline study Reflecting this, the Government has designated of the borough and is about to complete its Regeneration Framework. The Framework, together with a borough-wide Thurrock as a growth area with capacity for 18 500 Spatial Plan which has been recently commissioned, will constitute the Development Corporation’s main policy new homes and some 20 000 new jobs by 2021. framework which will be fully in place later in 2005. Alongside this huge potential, the area contains To provide a more detailed policy context for the regeneration of specific areas and sites, masterplans are being pockets of some of the most deprived communities produced for Purfleet, West Thurrock and Grays town centre. In addition, the Development Corporation is currently in the country. negotiating for the acquisition of a package of strategically important sites within the borough to deliver housing and community facilities.
The Development Corporation’s early priorities include engaging with Thurrock's diverse communities to improve and develop existing town and neighbourhood centres, opening up the waterfront and improving social infrastructure as well as road and rail transport links.
15 North Kent Thameside Kent Thameside has the potential to regenerate 56 square kilometres of north Kent – focusing on the redevelopment and improvement of previously developed land that has fallen into disuse. The area could support 20 000 homes and 50 000 jobs, building on the success of Bluewater shopping centre and Crossways business park. Major challenges remain with the need to resolve the impact of development on the road network, but the advent of new high speed trains and the roll out of Fastrack, the quality bus service currently under construction, demonstrates the Government’s level of commitment to this area.
Outline planning permission has been granted, subject to Public funding is supporting private investment in mixed In the longer term over 300 hectares at Eastern Quarry completion of legal agreements, to transform 53 hectares use developments in Gravesend, Northfleet and Dartford, next to Bluewater have the potential for development at Ebbsfleet into a major new commercial centre with building on their heritage and culture. Better use of the as a parkland setting for about 7250 homes and over 20 000 jobs. and 700 000 square metres of development. riverfront will be a major feature. The 1834 Grade II* 250 000 square metres of commercial floorspace, once Proposals include offices, other business space and at Listed pier at Gravesend has been restored and the planning and major transport issues have been resolved. least 3000 homes. By 2009, access to central London Listed old Town Hall will be renovated for community use. In the meantime over 500 homes have been built at will be available by train in less than 20 minutes. Work started in 2004 on a mini marina, riverside leisure Ingress Park on the riverside and at Waterstone Park and retail facilities and about 1000 new homes (25% Work is expected to start around the end of 2005 once around Stone Castle, with a further 1100 homes due affordable), in easy reach of the new Ebbsfleet station. long term planning strategies have been agreed. to be completed by 2007. The construction of 152 new houses and flats as part of an approved mixed use development at Lord Street in the town centre is expected to start in late 2005 and a further 500 homes are expected to be completed in the centre of Dartford from 2006. 16 Medway Waterfront The waterfront of the river Medway is the focus for the regeneration of over 900 hectares of brownfield land, with proposals for 11 sites stretched along 11 kilometres of striking and historic riverside, with the centre of Chatham at its heart.
Chatham Maritime has already been substantially Unused industrial land at Rochester Riverside is proposed for redevelopment as one of six new urban quarters on the developed as an award-winning joint venture between riverside, with easy access to Rochester station. Promoted by Medway Council and South East of England Development South East of England Development Agency and Agency, £28 million of Thames Gateway Programme funding is helping to secure land acquisition, decontamination and Countryside Properties. Work has started on site flood defences. Plans for the development include over 1600 homes (at least 25% affordable), retail and business units, to develop 2000 homes, with a park, river walkway, a hotel/conference centre, town centre supermarket, school and leisure and community facilities. offices, school, GP surgery and a 450 berth boat Proposals for the regeneration of Chatham Centre and Waterfront include a leisure, commercial and cultural centre, marina. Energy efficiency measures include solar with improvements to historic buildings, the station and other public transport. panels, rainwater harvesting and high standards of thermal insulation. £47 million from Government is behind the development of a ‘multi-university’ in the town that will double local student numbers to 6000 by 2010. It is expected to create 600 jobs, bring £10 million a year to the local economy and help Nearly 1000 homes had been built by the end of residents develop the skills needed for the opportunities created by the growth of the Gateway and its proximity to 2004, and Government funding is helping to speed Europe. up further development.
17 Strategic development locations: Transport infrastructure and housing growth
This Gantt chart demonstrates the rate at which housing development at strategic development locations is Key: expected to come forward and the inter-connection with upgrades in transport infrastructure in each area. Major housing schemes Key transport schemes Indicative start dates Indicative completion / opening dates Notes: Figures listed are indicative of overall capacity, not individual planning approvals, and are, therefore, subject to re
gional and localplannin g decisions.
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Stratford, Lower Lea and the Royal Docks (area capacity: 20 000 homes) 1 DLR extension to City Airport 2 DLR extension to Stratford 3 Silvertown Quays (5000 homes) 4 Stratford City (7000 homes) London Riverside (area capacity: 20 000 homes by 2016) 5 Thames Gateway Transit to Ilford, Barking and Dagenham 6 Rainham Village (2000 homes) 7 South Dagenham (4500 homes) 8 Barking Riverside at Barking Reach (10 800 homes) Greenwich Peninsula and Woolwich (area capacity: 25 000 homes by 2016) 9 A206 Thames Road Improvements 10 DLR extension to Woolwich Arsenal 11 Thames Gateway Transit Greenwich to Abbey Wood 12 Royal Arsenal at Woolwich (5000 homes) 13 Greenwich Millenium Village (3000 homes) 14 Greenwich Peninsula (10 000 homes) Thurrock (area capacity: 13 500 homes by 2016) 15 West Thurrock Marshes Relief Road (opened 2004) 16 Upgrade to C2C services 17 Chafford Hundred sites (3300 homes) 18 Purfleet sites (2000 homes) 19 Grays sites (2000 homes) North Kent Thameside (area capacity: 20 000 homes by 2016) 20 Kent Fastrack 21 Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic services 22 Ingress Park and Waterstone Park (1600 homes) 23 Ebbsfleet (3000 homes) 24 Eastern Quarry (7250 homes) 25 Dartford Park (1500 homes) Medway Waterfront (area capacity: 15 000 homes by 2016) 26 Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic services 27 Gillingham Waterfront (1000 homes) 28 Rochester Riverside (1800 homes) 29 Chattenden Barracks (5000 homes) 30 Strood Waterfront (1000 homes) 31 Chatham Town Centre and Waterfront sites (3500 homes)
18 Barking Basildon
The town centre is being revitalised with important new facilities based Extensive public consultation was carried out in January 2005 on around a new town square close to excellent public transport links. proposals and options for radical improvements to Basildon town centre. Over £20 million in public funding has been allocated for site purchases The Development Framework proposes: and development. G improving pedestrian access and reducing traffic dominance; G After extensive renovation works, the Broadway Theatre re-opened in G creating a landscaped environment with links to green areas; and December 2004 as a focal point for entertainment and community activities. G bringing more life to the centre with community and leisure facilities.
G Work has started on site for a lifelong learning centre and library to This will help to attract new retail, commercial and high quality housing promote new skills particularly in education, health and social care. developments to the town centre. Government has helped fund initial This is part of a major £60 million town centre development including works on improvements to St Martins Square and a skate park in about 400 new homes, completing in 2007. mid 2005.
Urban renewal locations renewal Urban G A masterplan to regenerate Barking Park will underpin a Heritage Close to the town centre, English Partnerships and the Housing Lottery Fund bid in 2005. Corporation are supporting the development of the Gardiner’s Lane site which has the capacity for over 400 mixed tenure homes, a business hub About 1450 other new homes, about 40% affordable, are planned in with over 7000 jobs, public open space and local road improvements. private developments near the town centre. In addition, the regeneration of the Craylands estate will provide around 1300 new or modernised homes and new community facilities. 19 Bexley Sittingbourne and Swale
Erith town centre is being regenerated as a riverside village, building on Proposals for town centre improvements in Sittingbourne build on the Vision the investment stimulated by the Morrison superstore developed in 2001. developed in 2003 after extensive research and consultation, and aim to The original shipping wharf has been restored as a public facility, fronting enhance the town’s historic character, while attracting new investment. a riverside walkway and 96 new homes. The old cinema is currently being Environmental improvements include more green space and better converted to 23 more homes. pedestrian access to a refurbished station. Options for improved A new shopping centre opens in Spring 2005 and includes 44 new homes. retail services and town centre housing are also being considered. A primary healthcare centre and other community facilities are being built, The Thames Gateway Programme Fund is supporting a feasibility and the theatre has had a facelift. Other proposed new facilities will study for expanded further and higher education facilities. The new include a hotel, a new swimming pool and a foyer to offer supported relief road will support development and ease existing traffic congestion. accommodation and training for young people at risk. The new road extension and bridge to the Isle of Sheppey is under The existing dual carriageway is being extended to link Woolwich with the construction and due to open early in 2006. Improved access will support Dartford river crossing. Nearby in Thamesmead, the Tavy Bridge estate is proposals for high quality mixed development at Queenborough and being improved and redeveloped for over 900 mixed tenure homes plus Rushenden, including over 700 new homes to be integrated into the better shops and community facilities. existing community. Extensive local consultation has been carried out and a draft development framework was approved by South East of England Business start up and job growth is being supported through the Development Agency and the local authority in December 2004. Innovation Centre at East Thamesmead and development of new small business units, along with transport improvements. 20 Southend
Southend’s town centre strategy aims to integrate social, educational and environmental needs with local economic priorities. Funded by £5.8 million from Government and the EU, Pier Hill has been developed as a high quality public space with a scenic lift, water feature and panoramic viewing platform overlooking the Thames Estuary and the town’s pier with its award-winning new entrance. Town centre security has been improved by a network of 241 CCTV cameras and a Control Centre linked to local shops and businesses. Major improvements to public transport include a state of the art central Travel Centre now on site and completing in March 2006. The Palace hotel will shortly be refurbished for leisure, conference, education and hotel facilities, with planning permission agreed in December 2004. The £50 million South East Essex College opened in September 2004 and conversion of the old Odeon cinema is well underway for the University of Essex. In October 2004, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council approved a landmark mixed use development including 446 new homes, 240 of them low cost home ownership for key workers funded with £6 million from Government.
21 Environment
The Thames Gateway contains an In addition, we will support the use of The Gateway contains areas that are at incredibly rich environment in both urban green spaces in achieving wider community risk from flooding. Much of London is and rural areas. It includes almost 40 Sites benefits including employment, skills situated within the floodplain, but it also of Special Scientific Interest and many training, community development, leisure benefits from very high levels of protection areas with a distinguished historic heritage. opportunities, and more sustainable forms from major tidal flooding (protection to of transport, such as walking and cycling. a 1:1000 year level or the possibility The Government believes that of 0.1% of flooding in any one year). communities are more successful and The River Thames, along with its four main There is already some £80 billion of enjoy a better and healthier quality of life tributaries, is clearly a huge asset for the commercial property located within these if they have easy access to an attractive, Gateway. In parts of the region, there is protected areas. The Government has well designed and managed green little or no public access to the river. already put in place planning policies to environment which is rich in biodiversity. We aim to ensure that access to the minimise flood risk within the Gateway We will ensure that development in the rivers is extended so that many more and elsewhere. We will ensure that Gateway is set within a network of green people have the opportunity to use the these policies are implemented by spaces, so that everyone has access to river for leisure and transport. local authorities to ensure that all new local parks and green areas. These will development is sited appropriately. include formal gardens and parks, large Good levels of protection will be woodlands, the open countryside, maintained across the Gateway. wetlands and the riverside.
22 Green space in the Thames Gateway
23 Progress to date
G We demonstrated the Government’s G We have provided £3.6 million G We have put in place a strong national commitment to high quality green to develop over 300 hectares planning framework (Planning Policy space across the Gateway in Creating of community green space in Guidance 25) which ensures that flood Sustainable Communities: Greening Thames Chase Community Forest. risk is considered by local authorities the Gateway, the framework document at all stages of the planning and G We have supported the development of development process. published in January 2004 and a follow- ‘Green Grids’ in Kent Thameside, east up Implementation Plan in February London and South Essex as important G We have taken a comprehensive 2005. These two documents provide a examples of best practice in providing approach to the production of a strategic context for the many existing an accessible interlinking chain of local strategic flood risk assessment for the regional and local environmental green space that also encourages 11 London Thames Gateway boroughs, initiatives and set out how these travel without cars. coordinated by the Thames Gateway will be delivered in practice. London Partnership, with the assistance G The Environment Agency has G of the Environment Agency and the We have funded CABE Space to established a dedicated Gateway London Development Agency. We have assist local authorities to develop green team, and has produced guidance provided funding to support work on space strategies. They have launched on development and flood risk in the strategic flood risk assessments for five projects within the Gateway in the Growth Areas. It is undertaking a six Kent Thameside, South Essex and first year. year study, Thames Estuary 2100, Medway and Swale, as well as river to develop a strategy for flood risk wall construction and land raising management in the Estuary for at Rochester Riverside. 24 the next 100 years. G We have set in place a statutory G Fund the development of a country framework to ensure that adequate park in Ranscombe, and a new water supplies will be available in all community woodland for Gravesend. areas, including those experiencing G Support the vital environmental work growth and worked with water companies of non-statutory agencies such as to ensure that they can plan ahead for Groundwork, the RSPB, Green Space forecast growth. All water companies and a wide range of community based covering the Gateway have costed plans organisations to involve local people in in place to ensure that they are able By 2010, we will: the creation and management of local to meet demand, including reducing G Invest at least £20 million from the green and public space. Groundwork leakage and new provision, such as a Thames Gateway Programme Fund in will produce their first Thames Gateway proposed desalination plant in Barking. green space projects. This includes strategy in 2005, which will integrate G Gateway local authorities have recycling £2 million to help develop an all Groundwork Thames Gateway targets in place to ensure they increase internationally significant 640 hectare activities, including its full range municipal waste recycling rates from an conservation park for rare wildlife and of green space initiatives. average of 17% to an average of 22.5% migratory birds at London Riverside, in 2005/06. and £4.5 million towards 18 projects in North Kent to restore 1,257 hectares of public open space.
25 G Revise Planning Policy Guidance 25 G Minimise flood risk by ensuring that on flooding to publish a revised PPS25 strategic flood risk assessments are early in 2006, which will strengthen the carried out in London, South Essex requirement for local authorities to take and Kent Thameside by the end of account of flood risk in development September 2006 and in Medway by plans and planning decisions. February 2007, helping local authorities to carry out their responsibility to G As part of the PPS25 review, consult prevent inappropriate development on introducing a Flooding Direction in floodplains. in cases where local authorities are minded to grant permission to major G Identify whether further action on waste more efficient in terms of energy and developments, despite Environment is necessary as a result of growth in the water, will have adequate recycling Agency objections. Gateway by December 2005. facilities and be easier to maintain and adapt. Where dwellings are being built G Protect water resources and reduce by Government and its Agencies, or waste production by promoting the where we are engaged in public private Code for Sustainable Buildings across partnerships, we will ensure that these the Gateway and by demonstrating the higher standards are applied to all benefits of the Code in Government new homes. funded developments. Dwellings built to Code standards will be significantly
26 Transport
Transport, both private and public, is a We have already begun to tackle this. The Community Infrastructure Fund key component of economic regeneration By 2009, a large number of transport will help to tackle these constraints, of the Gateway and of the delivery of improvements will be open across the providing funding for transport schemes sustainable communities. The transport Gateway, including domestic services on that unlock housing growth across all network in the Gateway is already under the high speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link four Growth Areas. strain with heavily used road and rail and an improved public transport network Progress to date commuter routes and local networks in East London. The framework for an that are already at capacity. effective strategic network with high quality G The Government has committed local services is now in place, making massive new investment in the The Government recognises that the travel easier for existing residents and strategic and local infrastructure with transport network must be improved enabling further new housing and the Government and Mayoral allocation to cope with the additional demands economic development to take place. of around £1 billion to transport new communities would place upon it. schemes across the Thames Gateway. Across the Gateway, growth and new Some areas remain where transport development will be focused initially constraints limit the capacity for growth, on areas with good existing or planned including a number of major developments transport links. This will ensure that new in Kent Thameside. In these areas, we are communities do not impose unacceptable committed to working with local partners demands upon the existing transport to determine the phasing of development, network until further improvements identify what needs to be achieved have been made. and agree how to do it.
27 New transport infrastructure in the Thames Gateway
London M11 Essex
Southend Airport Basildon
Stratford Southend
St Pancras Barking Fenchurch Street London Charing Cross City Airport C2C Canary Wharf Thurrock Woolwich
Dartford Tilbury
Thames Gateway transit Gravesend Sheerness DLR to City Airport Ebbsfleet DLR to Woolwich DLR to Stratford DLR 3 Car Upgrade A206 Thames Road Improvement M25 A13 Improvements Thames Gateway Bridge * Fastrack Rochester Second Swale Crossing Sittingbourne Northern relief Road Chatham A2 widening Gillingham East London Line Extension C2C platform lengthening Kent Sittingbourne Channel Tunnel Rail Link Domestics West Thurrock Regeneration Route CTRL International Stations M2 Existing Rail (Tube, Surface, DLR) CTRL Domestics Roads and Motorways M20 Ports M26 Produced by Thames Gateway Delivery Unit ODPM Using the Ordnance Survey 2002 boundary line data, with the Sanction of the Controller of HM Stationary Office Airports Licence no. 100018986 Crown Copyright Reserved 2004
* The Thames Gateway Bridge is indicative as it is currently subject to a planning inquiry
28 G New high speed trains were ordered in Spring 2005 which will allow domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link to open in 2009, reducing journey times from central London to Ebbsfleet and the Medway towns.
G A new Community Infrastructure Fund of £200 million will provide funding for transport schemes which can unlock housing development across the four G A ground breaking, long term funding - Extension of the Docklands Light Growth Areas. Provisional approval package for Transport for London is Railway to City Airport in 2005 and was announced in Spring 2005 for a supporting new development in the on to Woolwich Arsenal and to range of projects including Fastrack in London Thames Gateway, including Stratford, to be completed in 2009; Kent, platform lengthening betweeen the following planned improvements: Barking and Pitsea in Essex, and a - Upgrading of the Docklands Light new Docklands Light Railway station, - The Thames Gateway transit, linking Railway service from Bank to Langdon Park, in London. Ilford, Barking & Dagenham in 2007 and Lewisham from two cars to Greenwich to Abbey Wood in 2008; three in 2009;
- A206 Thames Road improvements in Bexley opening in 2009/10; and 29 - A major new Thames Gateway bridge - The first services on the Kent - An £120 million scheme to widen across the river between Beckton and Fastrack bus system will start in 2006. the A2 to four lanes between Bean Thamesmead, including separate In the longer term, it will link the Kent interchange and Cobham will increase cycle and footpaths, which is currently Thameside developments over a the capacity of the strategic network the subject of a planning inquiry. 35 kilometre route, joining up with the in North Kent. Phase one will open Channel Tunnel domestic services in Spring 2005 and work will be G A number of other major schemes have and North Kent Railways; completed in 2008. been completed or are on track for delivery in the next five years: - The second River Swale Crossing, due to open in 2006, will improve - The West Thurrock Marshes Relief accessibility and support regeneration Road opened in May 2004; on the Isle of Sheppey; - Four key junction improvements - The Sittingbourne Northern Relief along the A13, together with the Road, which has been given reconstruction of the bridge carrying provisional Local Transport Plan the A13 over the River Roding that funding of £29 million, will provide opens up access to London Riverside, improved links to residential and were completed in 2004; commercial development areas north of Sittingbourne; and
30 By 2010, we will:
G Work with stakeholders to ensure that planned transport improvements are delivered on time, including high speed trains to Stratford, Ebbsfleet and Medway, the Thames Gateway transit and Docklands Light Railway extensions to Woolwich and Stratford.
G Attach high priority to tackling G Ensure that the next Local Transport consult local authorities on the use of a outstanding transport constraints Plan settlement in 2006 will support formula representing transport pressures on development at key Gateway the Growth Areas’ ability to deliver as a basis for funding future allocations. locations, including London Riverside sustainable growth, to provide G Promote innovative transport solutions and North Kent Thameside. opportunities for vulnerable and including road pricing, better bus services G excluded groups to travel easily Ensure that the Community Infrastructure and journeys that use different types of to concentrations of work, and to Fund is allocated effectively to transport transport more effectively, supported by encourage walking, cycling, car sharing projects that best support housing the new Transport Innovation Fund due and greater use of public transport. delivery and make final funding to be introduced in 2008. decisions by December 2005. In 2006 Subject to satisfactory completion of we will review the Fund’s effectiveness. technical development work, we will
31 Sustainable homes
By 2016, at least 120 000 new homes This approach will help to support as a whole will offer a major contribution will have been built in the Gateway. development at higher densities in towards tackling homelessness and The Government recognises that, to appropriate locations, making the best reducing pressure on existing ensure that development is sustainable use of brownfield land and underpinning affordable housing. in the long term, new housing must be investment in new public transport and High environmental and quality standards of high design quality, achieve good local services. are important to ensure that new homes environmental standards, fit well with We aim to ensure that new housing will are attractive to buyers and sustainable local surroundings and meet the needs meet the needs of existing local residents, in the long term. The Government is of local communities. many of whom live in unsatisfactory committed to driving up standards, The Gateway provides a great opportunity accommodation. New developments will working with local authorities through to protect greenfield land by focusing new include a range of affordable housing for the development control and Building housing development on previously rent or purchase, giving more people more Regulations systems, by developing developed land or brownfield sites. housing choice. This will include social the Code for Sustainable Buildings Our policy is to enable development on housing for those in long term need and and by setting an example through brownfield sites in areas where existing greater opportunities for purchase by first the developments we fund directly. transport and public services are good or time buyers including key workers and will be improved within the next five years. other local people. The overall growth in the Thames Gateway and in London
32 Progress to date The Code for Sustainable Buildings G We have protected valuable greenfield The Code for Sustainable Buildings is an evolving voluntary scheme being developed land by ensuring that 78% of approved by Government and Industry to achieve greater promotion of more sustainable new development in the period 2001 to building practices. 2003 has been on brownfield sites in The Code will apply to all new building developments, but with the initial focus on the Thames Gateway. This proportion new build housing. It will cover both construction and requirements for building has been steadily increasing year on performance. year: 74% in 2001, 76% in 2002, and 85% in 2003. It will consist of a series of performance levels, with minimum performance requirements for energy, water, waste and materials efficiency. All requirements will G We are reforming the planning system be performance based and not prescriptive. This will allow designers, developers, and the culture of planning to promote builders and consumers flexibility and choice about design and construction, a faster, more flexible approach whilst encouraging innovation and choice. maintaining high standards through development control decisions. The Code will result in significant savings in energy, water and waste in new build Planning Policy Statement 1, housing. Buildings built according to the Code should be of high quality with lower Delivering Sustainable Development, running costs. issued in February 2005, puts good design and sustainability at the heart of new planning guidance.
33 G We have introduced the Planning Delivery Grant to increase the resources available to local authorities for the assessment and processing of planning applications. Local authorities in the Gateway received a total of £3 million in 2003/04, and £8.7 million in 2004/05.
G We have given English Partnerships a greater role in ensuring that surplus public sector land can be redeveloped G We have funded the Commission for G We have revised Building Regulations for high quality homes, particularly for Architecture in the Built Environment to improve the standard and energy key workers and others in housing to provide detailed design reviews efficiency rating of new homes. New need, through investment and strategic on significant development proposals, homes approved from 2005 onwards partnerships with private developers. including the masterplans for Stratford must be at least 25% more efficient City, Greenwich Peninsula, Silvertown in their use of energy. Quays and other forthcoming major schemes in the Gateway.
34 By 2010, we will: G Continue to invest in the delivery of G Continue to offer Planning Delivery homes that people can afford in the Grant for authorities on the basis of G Commit unprecedented levels of Gateway. Since 2003/04 the Housing their performance across a range of Government investment to social Corporation has invested £46 million planning functions and the scale of rented and key worker homes. and by April 2006, it will have invested the growth in their area. This will help London, South East and Eastern a further £200 million, helping to provide Gateway local authorities to respond regions are receiving a total of 4000 affordable homes. to the higher numbers of planning £3.16 billion for 2004/05 and 2005/06 applications being submitted. through the regional housing pot G Ensure that at least 80% of new homes allocations. Nationally, we will deliver in the Gateway are built on previously G Offer direct support to local authorities 75 000 social rented homes and 40 000 developed land. to deliver large scale housing homes for key workers and low cost development and regeneration projects G Seek to ensure that at least 35% of home ownership over the three years in the South East, through the new new homes are affordable for rent or to 2007/08, helping to reduce the Advisory Team for Large Applications, purchase, whilst supporting individual number of homeless households living hosted by English Partnerships. It will regional targets for affordable housing in temporary accommodation. offer a broad range of specialist support, within London, Kent and Essex and as well as independent advice on recognising the diversity of local targets. planning proposals aiming specifically We will continue to support key workers to unblock issues that are delaying or on low and moderate incomes through preventing development. the Key Worker Living scheme and the new First Time Buyers initiative. 35 G Use the new Code for Sustainable Buildings to give purchasers information on the running costs and sustainability of their new home. This will be piloted in the Gateway by both the private and public sectors, before being rolled out nation- wide. From April 2006, all new homes receiving Government funding will meet the Code for Sustainable Buildings.
G Encourage local authorities to promote G Require all existing social housing the Code and apply similar standards to be improved to at least the Decent consistently to privately developed Homes Standard by 2010. We will new homes as part of their Local closely monitor progress towards Development Frameworks. meeting this important standard, which will bring significant benefits for existing residents.
36 Tackling disadvantage
The Gateway suffers from relatively high training and employment, and improved published in January 2005, the levels of social deprivation, particularly public services such as education and Government is committed to giving considering its position in the South health, which focus on the needs of the people more power and a greater say East. The Government’s aim is to use most disadvantaged residents. in the way that their communities are run, growth and investment in the Gateway with greater influence over decisions about Creating successful communities goes well to support the work already ongoing to where money should be spent and what beyond building houses and providing improve our most deprived communities the priorities are for their own community. infrastructure. It is about ensuring that all and, in particular, to ensure that new members of the community, including the Cultural, sporting and leisure facilities developments are well integrated ith most disadvantaged, get the services they also help bring people together socially, existing communities and offer need. We will work with local authorities so that they form a mixed and integrated opportunities for increased social and regeneration partnerships to help them community. Consultation on Culture at the inclusion for all residents of the Gateway. mainstream social inclusion into their work. Heart of Regeneration has shown that The Gateway programme will improve culture can be a key driver in sustainable It is also about creating a sense of local surroundings and services for all regeneration of communities. Culture can place where people are proud of their its residents. It will provide opportunities be a force that cements a community neighbourhood and feel part of their to tackle social exclusion though together; and the provision of cultural and local community. As set out in Sustainable increased access to affordable housing, sporting facilities an integral part of creating Communities: People, Places, Prosperity,
37 prosperous communities in which people G Government funded Community want to live and businesses want to invest. Empowerment Networks in each of Communities with culture at their core are the NRF funded areas in East London often more vibrant and ultimately more enable community and voluntary sector attractive places to live. groups and local residents to take part in strategic decisions about designing Progress to date and delivering renewal activities in their G Over the last two years, we have invested areas, and also help service providers £71.8 million in the East London part of such as local authorities, the police the Gateway from the Neighbourhood and Primary Care Trusts make better Renewal Fund (NRF). These resources connections with marginalised groups. enable local strategic partnerships G We have supported the most covering the most deprived areas of the deprived communities in Tower Gateway to kickstart the improvement Hamlets, Lewisham and Newham with of mainstream public services, and to £157 million for the three New Deal for narrow the gap between deprived Communities partnerships, providing areas and the rest of the country. these neighbourhoods with the resources they need to tackle their problems in an intensive and coordinated way.
38 G The Living Spaces scheme provides funding, advice and practical support to community groups to take action to improve a variety of local spaces. These can include play areas, community gardens, local parks, nature areas and courts and squares. The Thames Gateway has benefited from over £650 000 worth of programmes, including a youth community involvement in public space - The regeneration of Chatham provides and community centre in Tower management issues, and encouraging a vision for a world class cultural Hamlets, a community garden in the use of more sustainable materials waterfront including a performing arts Sittingbourne, and a community for physical improvements. centre and the redevelopment of sports facility in Thurrock. Chatham Historic Docks; G The Gateway already includes a number G Greenwich and Medway are amongst of projects which will include provision for - As part of a suite of measures to 27 areas in the country which are cultural and community infrastructure: improve Rayleigh town centre, its piloting the Liveability Fund, receiving Grade II* Listed windmill will be opened - The Dome in Greenwich will be £3.6 million and £3.7 million respectively. as a cultural and educational resource. This programme encourages a more transformed into a major entertainments sustainable approach to improving venue, boasting a world class 26 000 public spaces by increasing capacity entertainment and sports arena, opening in 2007; 39 G The Gateway is setting an example the value of their contribution to the of how culture can be integrated with achievement of sustainable communities regeneration. In Thurrock, the use and ensuring the benefits the sectors of culture has been prioritised in can offer are well integrated into our regeneration plans, giving people delivery structures. a sense of shared community. And in G Give people more of a say in the way North Kent, a Cultural Coordinator has their communities are run: been appointed to work with partners to ensure a strategic approach to the - Neighbourhood Charters will permit development of cultural provision. devolved budgets and include the G Support cultural and community projects ability for communities to own By 2010, we will: through the Thames Gateway assets, such as green spaces Programme Fund: G Provide £51.7 million from the and playgrounds; Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for - The development of the award winning - Local councillors will act as leaders and Gateway local authorities in 2005/06. Laban Centre in Deptford, which advocates for local communities; and Allocations of the NRF for 2006/07 already provides a home for dance, and 2007/08 will be announced in - Local people will have the ability educational and creative industries; Spring 2005. to require action where they are - The modernisation of the library and dissatisfied with the level of G Engage with the voluntary and theatre centre in Grays; performance of a particular community sectors on the Thames local service. Gateway programme, recognising 40 - The creation of integrated Community G Publish a delivery plan, following the Enterprise Hubs to combat social publication of Culture at the Heart isolation in Kent Thameside, of Regeneration last year. This will Medway and Swale, through the highlight how to identify areas for provision of facilities and support partnership in cultural provision, for social enterprises; support cultural delivery and develop an evidence base to show the impact - The All Saints Neighbourhood culture has on regeneration. Renewal initiative in Chatham will provide community learning activities, G Host English Heritage workshops neighbourhood clean ups, Sure Start across the Thames Gateway in and youth facilities; April 2005 to promote the historic environment and introduce local - Funding for a disability centre and stakeholders and delivery agencies library refurbishment in Gillingham. to those bodies which can provide advice on heritage and the historic environment.
41 Health
The Gateway presents two challenges Building new communities provides an We will also provide additional revenue for health. First, parts of the Gateway, opportunity to help new residents to funding to ensure the healthcare needs in particular East London, already suffer adopt healthier lifestyles. We will ensure of all residents are met. from above average levels of poor health, that new developments are well designed The Gateway has traditionally been an exacerbated by income levels that are to encourage residents to lead healthier, area which has struggled to attract skilled generally low. Secondly, a significant better quality lives and to obtain the healthcare workers. The Government’s growth in population in many parts of the benefits of a safer, cleaner and investment in high quality affordable Gateway will create additional demands greener local environment. housing – much of it geared specifically on healthcare provision, requiring major We will continue to focus substantial to the needs of key workers – will help investment in new facilities and also capital resources through the Private to resolve this issue and will be an an increased healthcare workforce. Finance Initiative and Local Improvement essential part of the development The Government is addressing both Finance Trusts to provide new and of sustainable communities. of these challenges in partnership with upgraded primary and acute care facilities regional and local service providers. across the Gateway. Provision for healthcare facilities is being planned into new developments at the earliest stages.
42 Progress to date
G We have given an additional £60 million in funding to Primary Care Trusts across the four Growth Areas that are already experiencing growth. This equates to £20 million of revenue funding for 2004/05 and 2005/06, and £20 million of capital funding for 2005/06.
G We have funded new and upgraded - The Centre, Manor Park in Newham, - Between 2005 and 2007, LIFT will primary care centres across the which is the first NHS one-stop-shop deliver two more one stop primary care Gateway through Local Improvement surgery to be delivered via LIFT. centres in East London, at Vicarage Finance Trusts (LIFT), a Private Finance It will provide a range of primary care Lane and Barking Road, as well as Initiative supported by the Department services including a cardiology clinic, the £14.6 million East Ham Memorial of Health. These include: X-ray services, a dentist, pharmacy Hospital – Frail Elders Centre, which and optometry service; will provide day care, resources and rehabilitation for the elderly;
43 - The Thames View Primary Care Centre in Barking, to be followed later this year in Barking and Havering by the Harold Hill Centre and Morland Road Health Centre. A further five health centres are due to open in the locality next year;
- Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich recently established their LIFT Company, with other LIFT schemes G As more of the Primary Care Trusts in Gateway, with capital investment to in South East London and Medway LIFT establish their LIFT Companies, be directed at Dartford, Southend and expected to do the same in the next more health and social care premises Canvey Island to provide new primary few months. The establishment of infrastructure will be provided to support care facilities in future years. the delivery of sustainable communities. these LIFT companies allows them to The benefit of a LIFT Company is that, start delivering new health facilities in G In November 2004, the Government once established, it ensures a continued their areas with their first buildings made a further commitment to a ‘4th working relationship between the expected to open in 2006. Wave’ of LIFT programmes. These will Primary Care Trust and its private sector enable additional primary care facilities partner, which enables the ongoing roll to be built in the Kent and Essex out of funding and new infrastructure.
44 By 2010, we will: G Work with local planning authorities G Ensure that skills training matches to ensure that health and social care the employment opportunities for local G Allocate additional funds to Primary facilities are fully considered in the residents that expanded healthcare Care Trusts in Growth Areas from early stages of planning new provision will create, through close 2006/07. A new ‘Growth Area development and promote the cooperation between the NHS, Learning Adjustment’ will apply for funding co-location of health facilities with and Skills Councils and Regional allocations for 2006/07 and 2007/08, other community services, making Development Agencies. reflecting population forecasts in the it easier for residents to access Thames Gateway and other growth G Support the development of a Social healthcare. areas. This will help Primary Care Trusts and Health Care Plan which will identify to provide additional services in areas G Address the causes of healthcare where new investment needs to be experiencing growth. sector recruitment and retention made in health and social care services problems in parts of the Gateway, across the London part of the Gateway G Tackle the current inequalities in health including running joint recruitment in the coming period. This recognises across the Gateway, by ensuring that campaigns between areas and the particular challenges faced in this the objectives and actions outlined providing loans for key workers to area. Following completion of this work, in the public health White Paper, help them access the housing market. we will consider its extension to the Choosing Health: Making Healthy rest of the Gateway. Choices Easier, inform and are embedded in development plans.
45 New health and education infrastructure since 2001
Mid Essex Hospital# Services - Chelmsford
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Produced by Thames Gateway Delivery Unit ODPM Using the Ordnance Survey 2002 boundary line data, with the Sanction of the Controller of HM Stationary Office Licence no. 100018986 Crown Copyright Reserved 2004 46 Education, skills and employment
The development of the Thames Gateway The Thames Gateway programme is We will raise the standards of learning, will bring with it a wealth of opportunities for designed to turn this around. We will work related skills, employability and growth and diversification in employment support employment growth that will further educational achievement across and business activity. About 180 000 new provide the right balance and quality the Gateway. We will provide new jobs are projected by 2016. of jobs and will foster the coherence opportunities for adults to increase and sustainability of local communities. their skills and access employment. Much of the Thames Gateway is a The work available needs to include And we will ensure that a wide range relatively disadvantaged part of the full and part time opportunities, and be of educational facilities – nurseries, South East, which is reflected in suitable for a wide range of skill levels. schools, colleges, universities and lifelong comparatively poor educational Equally, existing and new residents will learning institutions – are available for opportunity and achievement. need to have the skills to support the existing and new residents. About a quarter of the population have different types of local employment basic skills needs and one third have that will be attracted by the location not reached NVQ Level 2. Take up of and character of Gateway areas. further and higher education is very low and many people are employed in jobs with a low skills base. In contrast, the majority of new jobs projected in the Gateway will require NVQ Level 3 or above and one third will be degree level.
47 Progress to date G The Chartered London Teacher is attracting the best teachers and leaders G 32 Sure Start programmes and four into London schools by rewarding the Early Excellence Centres in the skills and experience needed to work Gateway have given parents and in a multicultural urban environment. children in deprived areas access The Key Worker Living scheme has to improved childcare, training and enabled teachers in high cost areas in healthcare opportunities. the South East to apply for interest free G As part of the London Challenge equity loans towards buying a home. Strategy, we have begun to raise G We have put additional funding from the education standards across the capital, Thames Gateway Programme Fund into including in London Thames Gateway. post-16 education and training projects GCSE results for the three lowest including: performing authorities in the Gateway in 2003 (Greenwich, Lewisham and - £14 million for a new Joint Further Tower Hamlets) rose by an average and Higher Education campus and of 5.5% last year. business innovation centre in Southend town centre;
48 G We have begun to tackle the skills G We have agreed funding of £4 million deficit in the Gateway: the Learning to expand the Prospects Construction and Skills Council invests £525 million Skills Centre in Southend. More than a year in skills training in the Gateway twenty local colleges and training and has established a Thames Gateway providers have been awarded Centre of Directorate. The Learning and Skills Vocational Excellence status. This will Council’s Gateway Skills Audit, provide a local trained workforce to published last October, analysed meet the demand created by the how many new jobs are likely to be many large construction projects - £15 million for a new Multiversity created in the area and the skills planned in the area. they will require. campus at Medway; and By 2010, we will: G The Profit from Learning pilot - £6.5 million for the extension of G Provide 90 children’s centres across the programme with employers has University of East London Royal Docks Gateway, bringing together a wide range already benefited 20 000 employees in campus allowing for an additional of support services for children and their the Gateway, supported by £25 million 3500 students and business incubation families, including: and start-up space. from the Learning and Skills Council. - good quality early education combined with full day care provision;
49 - child and family health services, encouraging greater collaboration including ante-natal services; between London Authorities on planning new places and on establishing a - a base for a child minder network; common methodology for projecting - support for children and parents with pupil numbers. special needs; and G Allocate £1.35 billion Government - effective links with Jobcentre Plus, capital for Gateway local authorities local training providers and further to invest in school premises and and higher education institutions. equipment over the period 2005-08. This includes funding for the first wave G Establish new academies in Tower G Ensure that new schools and nurseries of Building Schools for the Future in Hamlets, Stratford, Medway and are planned into new developments the London Boroughs of Greenwich, Bexley. Through increased investment from the very start. Lewisham and Newham to renew and stronger leadership, these will G Continue to allocate significant capital secondary schools' estates. Tower challenge the culture of educational investment to reflect shifts in pupil Hamlets and Kent are scheduled to under-achievement and deliver real populations, and work with Gateway benefit in waves two and three, and improvements in standards. Further authorities to improve their planning further Gateway authorities will benefit academies are also being considered information. This will be achieved by as the programme is rolled out. in Southend, Havering, Barking and Dagenham.
50 G Publish and implement the Thames G Publish a Thames Gateway economic G Establish a Lifelong Learning Network Gateway Skills for Communities Plan statement which brings together the for the Creative and Cultural industries, in 2005. This will build on the Learning work of the three Regional Development funding for which is under negotiation and Skills Council Skills Audit, by setting Agencies, Learning and Skills Councils with the Learning and Skills Council and out how we propose to improve local and local authorities and identifies areas the Higher Education Funding Council residents’ skills and qualifications to for further action by December 2005. for England. This will strengthen match those required by new jobs, progression from Further Education G Increase the volume and quality of including addressing the needs of the to Higher Education and the provision work based learning initiatives, like lowest skilled who are furthest from of high level skills in these industry apprenticeships and the Foundation for the job market. sectors in the Gateway. Learning and Progression established G Work with the Regional Development at Bluewater. Agencies to implement their ten year development strategies and the Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action.
51 Delivering the Gateway
The Thames Gateway programme covers Strategic coordination for the Thames Local development and delivery is a huge area, spanning three regions, and Gateway programme is carried out by undertaken by the 18 Gateway local 18 local authorities. The demographics of MISC22, a Cabinet Committee for delivering authorities, two new Urban Development the local population vary considerably, housing growth in the South East, chaired Corporations – London Thames Gateway as does the existing supply of housing, by the Prime Minister, and by the Thames Development Corporation and Thurrock transport links and public facilities. Gateway Strategic Partnership. Here, Thames Gateway Development Each area has its own unique identity, high level plans are set, objectives and Corporation, and seven Local strengths and problems. targets are aligned, strategic investment Regeneration Partnerships – priorities are identified and negotiated, Basildon Renaissance Partnership, To make a success of the Gateway, and significant barriers are addressed. Bexley Regeneration Partnership, we need to take a tailored and flexible Kent Thameside Delivery Board, approach, working on a local basis to Regional planning and coordination is Woolwich Regeneration Agency, agree local priorities and meet local needs. undertaken by the three Thames Gateway Medway Renaissance Partnership, Sub-Regional Partnerships, Regional Delivery of the Thames Gateway Swale Forward, and Renaissance Planning Bodies and Government Offices programme takes place at three levels: Southend. These bodies are responsible for the Regions. This is where national for driving forward the regeneration of and Thames Gateway wide policies and their local areas and for coordinating initiatives are translated to the regional growth and regeneration activities context. These organisations provide the at the local level. interface between Government and local partners, coordinating action on common issues and providing regional input to the 52 planning process. Local delivery structure in the Gateway
53 £m Government funding in the Thames Gateway
Government funding for the Gateway 1800
programme is made up of two main £1575m 1600 elements. Environment 1400 Affordable housing Mainstream Government programmes will £1259m deliver the key infrastructure required to 1200 Land remediation and development build sustainable communities – education Neighbourhood 1000 and skills, healthcare, improvements to renewal Regional Development the road network and to public transport, 800 Agencies the environment and a range of other 600 Health necessary infrastructure. Between 2003/04 £446m £400m Thames Gateway and 2005/06, mainstream Government 400 £320m programme £268m £268m £280m programmes spent a total of £4.86 billion Education 200 in the Gateway. This was in addition to the £41m Skills £1.3 billion which has been committed for 0 transport improvements since 2003. Spend (2003/04 - 2005/06) Notes: - Flood Defence – funded through Environment Agency - English Partnerships – funding for land remediation and development in the Gateway - Neighbourhood Renewal – includes Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and New Deal for Communities - Regional Development Agencies – includes funding for three Gateway Regional Development Agencies for business support, land remediation and development - Health – excludes private investment in primary care centres through LIFT companies - Education – covers all local authorities within the Gateway
54 In addition, the Government has This budget will not substitute for, or - supporting transport improvements in established a dedicated Thames duplicate, existing Government funding a way that complements mainstream Gateway Programme Fund to complement streams but will support projects that unlock Government funding and unlocks mainstream programmes and overcome additional regeneration or growth potential, development potential; barriers to development. This fund is relating to a wide range of themes: - employment and employment related managed by the Office of the Deputy - the environment – parks and green projects that maximise the opportunities Prime Minister. By March 2008 (the end spaces, sustainable building, design for innovation, new economic activity of the current Government spending quality and flood risk management; and attract investment; and period), ODPM will support projects worth £850 million in the Gateway. - town centres – revitalising the centres - facilities that benefit local of existing communities; communities and which support regeneration and growth. - bringing back brownfield land into productive use;
- creating new or expanded sustainable communities;
55 So far, we have approved £475 million of projects in principle. Distribution of ODPM funding – £m ODPM funding is channelled through Government sponsored bodies, such 200 Masterplanning and delivery vehicles as English Partnerships, Regional Land purchase and 180 £169m Development Agencies and the Housing remediation Corporation, and through local authorities. 160 Employment From 2005, we will award funding based 140 on projects put forward as part of a Housing 120 consistent local area programme Environment prepared by the two Urban Development 100 Corporations and seven local regeneration Town centres 80 £72m £72m partnerships for their local area. These Education Local Regeneration Frameworks will 60 £53m identify the strategic priorities for Liveability 40 £26m investment and projects that will £23m £21m Transport £15m £15m strengthen the social and economic 20 £10m Utilities fabric of their areas. 0
56 A measure of our success in regenerating There are a number of key delivery partners operating within the Gateway who play the Thames Gateway will be the extent a major role in the delivery of growth and sustainable communities. These include: to which it attracts private investment. For the most part, the improvements in Office of the Deputy Prime Minister the Thames Gateway will be delivered ODPM coordinates activities across Government and manages the Thames Gateway by the private sector without any public Programme Fund to deliver sustainable communities in the area. Its main roles are to: sector financial support. Government’s role will be to continue to create confidence in G Establish an agreed framework for delivery of growth and regeneration in the the Gateway by appropriate infrastructure Thames Gateway; investment and by helping to remove G Coordinate the programme across departments, agencies and utility companies to obstacles to development. Where the ensure that new developments are supported by the right network of infrastructure scale of the regeneration required is and services; beyond the private sector's ability to deliver on its own, we will work on public- G Focus mainly on identified priority areas for regeneration and growth; private partnerships to develop major G Establish, fund and sponsor new delivery bodies for each of the major development projects, such as Barking Riverside. areas to plan and manage the growth programme, effectively and sensitively, at the local level;
G Make capital interventions to unlock barriers and promote local delivery of growth and regeneration; and
G Raise the quality of design, density and sustainability of development in the Gateway. 57 Thames Gateway local authorities
Local authorities have a key role in developing sustainable communities in the Thames Gateway:
G Setting out in Community Strategies the vision for the sustainable development of their areas;
G Setting out in local development frameworks a spatial vision for their area and how this can be implemented;
G Promoting community development and involvement in decision making;
G Identifying local housing needs and ensuring new development meets those needs in a sustainable way;
G Encouraging and enabling investment from the private sector;
G Improving the quality of life through improved transport initiatives and better green spaces; and
G Providing key services which support local needs, including education, housing support and social services.
58 English Partnerships
English Partnerships’ (EP) role is to support and enable new Operating on a national scale, many of EP’s initiatives are development that meets Government priorities by: directly supporting regeneration in the Thames Gateway:
G Acquiring and assembling land for development; G EP and Bellway Homes have formed a joint venture company to develop over 10 000 homes at London Riverside. G Bringing unused public sector sites into use with a best value approach; G EP has recently agreed the purchase of 100 former NHS sites, four of which are in the Gateway, and will be G Carrying out decontamination and infrastructure work to promoting the development of these with the private sector. make redevelopment more viable; G Five sites of EP’s London Wide Initiative are in the Thames G Promoting sustainable, innovative mixed tenure Gateway, with the capacity to deliver 4000 homes by 2010. developments with a significant proportion of affordable Half are for low cost purchase by key workers, alongside housing; and homes for market sale and social rent. G Achieving this by working in partnership with private In February 2005, the Government launched a competition developers, housing associations and other bodies. with developers to build 1000 high quality new affordable homes at a construction cost in the region of £60 000, using land provided by English Partnerships.
59 Housing Corporation
The Housing Corporation’s role is to: G In the first phase of the Royal Arsenal development in Woolwich, the Corporation has provided £25 million to G Fund new affordable homes and provide homes for people help deliver 328 new affordable homes. The homes on modest incomes, including key workers; and will provide a range of tenures, including private rental, G Regulate the work of housing associations to ensure that shared ownership and key worker homes. 15% of the residents have access to decent quality services that they new homes will be for wheelchair users. can afford. G At Greenwich Millennium Village, Corporation funding By April 2006, the Corporation will invest £200 million in the for over 200 homes has been agreed. Gateway to fund more than 4000 affordable homes. Many of G In Dartford town centre, the Corporation is funding 60 these will be for key workers. Others will provide new modern homes – a mixture of rent and sale – on the Tesco site, homes for people currently living in unsatisfactory conditions. which will also include new retail units, a medical centre and hypermarket.
G Corporation funding will contribute to over 450 units on Rochester Riverside.
60 Regional Development Agencies
Regional Development Agencies are strategic drivers G Business development through the promotion of knowledge of regional economic development in their region. transfer, innovation and entrepreneurship networks They aim to coordinate regional economic development especially in sectors identified as critical to the East London, and regeneration, enable the regions to improve their relative North Kent and South Essex economies; competitiveness and reduce the imbalance that exists within G Business support, advice and grants through the Business and between regions. Link network; and In the Gateway, the three Regional Development Agencies – G Managed workspace, innovation and incubator units London Development Agency, South East of England creating flexible and low costs premises for start-up and Development Agency and East of England Development move-on space required by existing businesses and new Agency – are responsible for: firms setting up and locating across the Gateway. G A significant programme of land assembly and remediation, bringing forward to the market brownfield land unattractive to the private sector, through a series of large mixed use development projects, including Chatham Maritime, Northfleet Embankment, Albert Basin in Royal Docks and St Andrews Hospital in Newham;
61 The planning framework
Regional Spatial Strategies Local Development Frameworks Annex A Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) are Local Development Framework is the Local Planning Authorities are required prepared by the Regional Assembly, and non-statutory term for the portfolio of to replace adopted structure and local will replace Regional Planning Guidance. local development documents which will plans and unitary development plans comprise the spatial planning strategy with a Local Development Framework Incorporating a Regional Transport for a local planning authority’s area. by May 2007 (three years from the Strategy, the RSS provides a statutory These documents, introduced as a result date of the Planning and Compulsory spatial framework to inform the preparation of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Purchase Act 2004). of Local Development Documents, Local Act 2004 and accompanying Regulations, Transport Plans and regional and sub- will replace the existing system of local, regional strategies and programmes that structure and unitary development plans. have a bearing on land use activities. Local development frameworks will be The RSS provides a broad development spatial rather than purely land-use plans. strategy for the region for a 15 to 20 year They will provide a clear spatial vision period. It covers identification of the scale for an area, together with a realistic and distribution of provision for new housing, implementation strategy. priorities for the environment, such as countryside and biodiversity protection, and transport infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals extraction and waste treatment and disposal. 62 Timetable for production of Regional Spatial Strategies in the Thames Gateway
South East England
G Regional Planning Guidance 9 was published 2001.
G The South East England Regional Assembly is currently preparing a new Regional Spatial Strategy for South East England, The South East Plan:
Public consultation Submission to Government Approval and publication
Early 2006 Summer 2006 2007
East of England
G Regional Planning Guidance 6 (published 2000) and Regional Planning Guidance 9 (published 2001) together form the initial Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England.
G A revised Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England, called The East of England Plan, was prepared by the East of England Regional Assembly and issued for consultation by the Secretary of State in December 2004.
Public consultation Examination in public Approval and publication
Early 2005 September 2005 Late 2006
London
G The London Plan was published in February 2004, replacing previous planning guidance for London (RPG3).
G The Greater London Authority and the London Boroughs are currently undertaking a London Housing Capacity Study, which will inform the first review of the London Plan in 2006.
63 Contacts and glossary
For further information about the Academy: All abilities schools established by sponsors CABE Space: A part of the Commission for Annex B Thames Gateway, go to from business, faith or voluntary groups working in Architecture and the Built Environment which innovative partnerships with central Government and champions excellence in the planning, management www.odpm.gov.uk/thamesgateway. local partners. The Academies' programme aims to and maintenance of public space and in particular Alternatively: challenge the culture of educational underachievement parks and greenspaces. and to deliver real improvements in standards. Centre for Vocational Excellence: Specialist areas G All Academies are located in areas of disadvantage For information about the overarching of vocational provisions characterised by close links and either replace existing schools facing challenging policy and strategy, contact ODPM’s between colleges, other providers, business partners, circumstances or are established where there is a other employment interests and communities. Thames Gateway Strategy Division need for additional school places. on 020 7944 4566. They aim to produce appropriately qualified and Affordable housing: This breaks down into two skilled workers with excellent employment and career G For information about funding subcategories: social housing, where rent levels are set prospects which meet the needs of the economy. in line with the Government’s rent influencing regime, and allocations, the delivery of specific Commission for Architecture and the Built intermediate housing which includes a mix of low cost projects, or investment opportunities, Environment: An Executive Non-Departmental home ownership products, and reduced cost rental Public Body, funded by Government to act as a contact ODPM’s Thames Gateway products, primarily in the form of key worker housing. design champion for the built environment. Delivery Unit on 020 7944 8892. Brownfield land: Formally “previously developed land Community Empowerment Networks: that is unused or may be available for development”. Or email New mechanism introduced to ensure that all It includes both vacant and derelict land and land [email protected]. local partners are closely engaged in currently in use with known potential for redevelopment. neighbourhood renewal. It excludes land that was previously developed where the remains have blended into the landscape over time. Community Infrastructure Fund: A £200 million fund to deliver transport infrastructure in the Thames Gateway and the other Growth Areas.
64 Culture at the Heart of Regeneration: First Time Buyers Initiative: Announced in the Five Greening the Gateway: An ODPM/Defra document A DCMS publication highlighting the importance of Year Plan, the First Time Buyers Initiative addresses launched in January 2004, setting out the Government’s culture in regeneration efforts across the country. housing affordability issues and offers a stepping stone to vision for greenspace and sustainable development in home ownership via shared equity. English Partnerships the Thames Gateway. Decent home: A home that is warm, weatherproof and will lead on the delivery of 15 000 homes, half of which has reasonably modern facilities. Green Space: A not-for-profit organisation set up to help will be geared at key workers and half at those who those committed to the planning, design, management Development Corporation: could not own a home without extra help. and use of public parks and open spaces. Formerly the See Urban Development Corporation. Government Office for the Regions: Representatives of Urban Parks Forum. Early Excellence Centre: Centres that offer high quality central Government in the regions, bringing together the Groundwork: A federation of local Trusts that share a practice in one-stop-shop integrated education and day work of ten government departments. charitable purpose to build sustainable communities care for young children, and services and opportunities Green belt: A designation for land around certain cities through community participation in environmental action. for parents, carers, families and the wider community and large built-up areas which aims to keep this land both directly and in cooperation with other providers. Growth Areas: Four areas in the South East where permanently open or largely undeveloped. Most new additional growth is being managed in a sustainable English Heritage: A Government agency with building development is not permitted in the green belt, way. They are: Thames Gateway; Milton Keynes-South responsibility for all aspects of protecting and promoting in order to restrict the spread of built-up areas into the Midlands; London-Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough; the historic environment. surrounding countryside. and Ashford. English Partnerships: The national regeneration Greenfield land: Land which has never been built on Higher Education Funding Council for England: agency, helping the Government to support high quality before or where the remains of any structure or activity Responsible for promoting and funding high quality sustainable growth in England. have blended into the landscape over time. education teaching and research. Fastrack: An innovative bus-based rapid transit system Green grid: An approach to enhancing and creating Homelessness: Statutory homeless households are for Kent Thameside. Operating high frequency services greenspace which emphasises the importance of households that local authorities must, by law, ensure often running on segregated road lanes and having physically linking together parcels of greenspace. have somewhere suitable to live. priority over general traffic. ‘Green grids’ pay particular attention to the practical environmental, economic and social benefits of functional green infrastructure. 65 Homes for All: Launched on 24 January, the first of the Learning and Skills Council: Responsible for planning Living Spaces Scheme: Living Spaces provides support ODPM's Five Year Plans sets out the action being taken and funding all vocational education and training for in the form of funding, advice and practical support to over the next five years to offer everyone the opportunity young people and adults. community groups throughout England to support a of a decent home at a price they can afford – tackling variety of open spaces. Lifelong Learning Network: A HEFCE/LSC initiative that shortages of affordable homes in some communities, funds collaborative agreements between Higher Education Local Development Frameworks: The local and poor or abandoned homes in others. and Further Education partners. These involve transparent development documents, set out in the form of a Housing Associations: Common term for the 2000 or and simple progression routes and credit transfer from one portfolio, which collectively deliver the spatial planning so independent, not-for-profit organisations registered qualification to another across institutions. strategy for the local planning authority's area. with, and regulated by, the Housing Corporation. Liveability: Liveability is concerned with improving local Local Improvement Finance Trusts (LIFT): LIFT is Housing Associations are able to bid for funding from quality of life by improving and sustaining the quality of a PFI initiative endorsed by the Department of Health the Housing Corporation. public spaces and local environments. This includes which enables Primary Care Trusts, or more often Housing Corporation: The Housing Corporation’s role is creating well planned, designed and managed parks and clusters of Primary Care Trusts, to jointly form a LIFT to fund and regulate housing associations in England. open spaces, and improving social use of public space Company with a private sector developer. The purpose by tackling crime, fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. of LIFT is to create long-term public/private partnerships Interregional Planning Statement: A non-statutory It is being addressed across Government through the dedicated to investment and delivery in primary care planning framework agreed by the three Regional Cleaner, Safer, Greener Communities programme. infrastructure over a sustained period. Planning Bodies responsible for the Thames Gateway sub-region. Published in August 2004, it is an agreed Liveability Fund: The Liveability Fund provides Local Strategic Partnership: A body bringing together statement to inform the planning process underpinning revenue grants to local authorities in 27 pilot areas local authorities, other public services, private, voluntary the development of the Thames Gateway. across England to help them reform their public space and community sector organisations to work with maintenance services before providing capital reward residents to improve local areas and services. Key Worker Living programme: A scheme helping key grants to help deliver physical improvement projects. workers in London, the South East and East of England to buy a home, upgrade to family home or rent a home at an affordable price.
66 Mixed use development: A well integrated mix of land People, Places, Prosperity: Is the Five Year Plan for Private Finance Initiative (PFI): In a PFI transaction, uses (retail, employment, leisure and other service uses) people, places and prosperity which shows how, working a private sector service provider is given responsibility with decent homes of different types and tenures to across Whitehall, Government will promote prosperity for for designing, building financing and operating assets, support a range of household sizes, ages and incomes. all and help local people create communities of which from which a public service is delivered. they will feel proud. Multiversity: These are campuses shared by more than Profit From Learning: The scheme being run in the institution. They combine Further and Higher Education, Planning Delivery Grant: A performance reward Thames Gateway as one of the LSC led ‘Employer and have strong links with employers and the workplace. initiative designed to incentivise planning performance, Training Pilot’ programmes. The £40 million pilot project Some will offer only vocational courses, others a mix. paid annually to local planning authorities as a reward to encourage a wide range of employers to give low They offer a wide range of courses, vocational to for good performance in the previous year. skilled workers paid time off work to take free education academic, sub-degree level to PhD. and training courses. Planning Policy Statements: Statements issued by Neighbourhood Renewal Fund: The fund is providing Government setting out national planning policy and the Regeneration Frameworks: Set out a clear vision £1.9 billion in extra resources for the most deprived main land uses. They are supported by a range of good for an area (normally the area covered by the local communities over five years. practice and other documents providing guidance and regeneration partnership or Urban Development advice on the application of policy. Corporation as a whole) including the strategic goals, New Deal for Communities: A key programme in the and a baseline assessment of the area, and describe Government's strategy to tackle multiple deprivation in the Primary care facilities: Services that form primary how the vision will be achieved. most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, giving some care medical services, such as GPs, district nurses of our poorest communities the resources to tackle their and dentists. Primary care facilities do not include more Local Regeneration Partnerships: Independent bodies, problems in an intensive and coordinated way. specialist or acute care such as hospitals or specialist including the two Urban Development Corporations and health units. the Urban Renaissance Company at Southend, that both NVQ Level 3: Work-related, competence based produce and own the regeneration framework for their qualifications. They are based on national occupational Primary Care Trust (PCT): Local body responsible for area, and support the local delivery partners in their work. standards. They describe what component people in the employment of primary care health professionals and This includes monitoring the overall progress towards a given occupation can be expected to perform. It is the delivery of primary care health facilities on the ground. achieving the vision for the area. roughly equivalent to an A or AS Level. PCTs also commission secondary and specialist care.
67 Regional Assembly: Regional Assemblies for each Regional Housing Board: The Sustainable Communities Site of Special Scientific Interest: An SSSI is an area region are made up of representatives of the local Plan introduced new regional arrangements to help that has been notified as being of special interest under authorities and of business and voluntary bodies. deliver sustainable communities, including the creation the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. They include They have a coordinating, strategic role and work with of Regional Housing Board in each of the nine English good examples of our natural heritage of wildlife the Regional Development Agency, the Government regions. The Board is responsible for drawing up the habitats, geological features and landforms. Office, local authorities and other representatives in the Regional Housing Strategy and making recommendations Social exclusion: Social exclusion happens when region. Since 2003, Regional Assemblies have been the to Minister about the Regional Housing Pot. people or places suffer from a series of problems such as Regional Planning Body for their region, with responsibility Regional Planning Guidance: unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, for producing the regional spatial strategy, which includes See Regional Spatial Strategy. high crime, poor health and family breakdown. the transport strategy for the region. The merger of Regional Housing and Planning bodies will mean that Regional Spatial Strategy: A strategy, formerly known Sure Start: The Government's programme to deliver the Regional Assemblies bring together regional responsibility as Regional Planning Guidance, for how a region should best start in life for every child by bringing together early for housing and planning. look in 15-20 years time and possibly longer. It identifies education, childcare, health and family support. the scale and distribution of new housing in the region, Regional Development Agency: Set up by Government Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future: indicates areas for regeneration, expansion or to promote sustainable economic development in England. A long term programme of action, published in February sub-regional planning and specifies priorities for Their main tasks are to help the English regions improve 2003, to tackle the shortage of housing in London and the environment, transport, infrastructure, economic their relative economic performance and reduce social and the South East and low demand and abandonment development, agriculture, minerals and waste economic disparities within and between regions. in the North and Midlands and to create sustainable treatment and disposal. communities. Shared ownership: A means of helping people into Urban Development Corporation: Non-departmental home ownership. The buyer purchases a share of their public body created to help deliver urban renewal. home, with the remaining share being held by another party, for example a housing association. When the homeowner comes to sell the home, the other party would be entitled to some of the proceeds of the sale. 68 Photographs kindly supplied by:
Arup London and Continental Railways Barton Willmore London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Basildon District Council London Borough of Newham Berkeley Homes London Borough of Tower Hamlets Countryside Properties Maxwan – Barking Riverside Ltd Crest Nicholson Medway Council Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley PCT/ Merlin Hendy Kent County Council Multiplex and the Westfield Group Dockland Light Railway Ltd Rochford District Council English Partnerships RSPB Evening Times Silverteam Ltd Ford Motor Company Ltd Silvertown Quays Limited Gallions Housing Association Southend-on-Sea Borough Council George Green’s secondary school – Stanhope Plc Tower Hamlets Swale Borough Council HOK Sport Venue Event Architecture The Lewisham Hospital NHS trust John Lyall Architects Thurrock Council Kent Institute of Art and Design Transport for London Kent Thameside University of East London Laban University of Kent Land Securities Group Plc If you would like further copies of this publication please contact:
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