The Vision for the tidal Thames 2035 About the Thames Vision The Thames Vision is the framework for the development of the tidal Thames between now and 2035. It has been developed with stakeholders over 18 months, starting in Spring 2015. The Vision covers six goals for growth and actions to deliver these goals. This document covers the context for the Vision today, the goals and priority actions, the governance framework and how we will report progress. Contents Introduction 1 Summary of Thames Vision goals and priority actions 2 Context 4 How the Thames Vision has developed 6 Thames Vision to 2035: Goals and priority actions 7 Delivering the shared Vision 9 Tracking progress and delivery 9 Vision goals and priority actions in detail 10 Port of London – More trade, more jobs 10 Inland freight – More goods off roads onto the river 14 Passenger transport – More journeys 18 Sport and recreation – More participants 22 Environment and heritage – Improved tidal Thames environment 26 Community and culture – More people enjoying the Thames and its banks 30 About the Port of London Authority 34 Annex: Organisations who have contributed to the Vision 35 References 36 thames vision 2035 Introduction For more than two thousand years, the River Vision sees the river at the heart of new, Thames has been central to London’s evolution, sustainable communities looking towards, not shaping its communities and underpinning its away from, the Thames. By making the most economy. Culturally, the Thames is part of what of the river, the Thames will play a key role in makes London celebrated in poetry, prose, art both transporting people and goods, providing and music. As we have cleaned the river up in a space for sport, recreation and a cultural the last two generations, it has become hub too. increasingly valued as a ribbon of blue space enjoyed by millions of people, sustaining a We have led the development of the Vision, over vibrant marine environment for wildlife. the last 18 months, in our work as Custodians of the tidal Thames. This is part of our role as a The Thames Vision is a 20 year view of the Trust Port to hand the tidal Thames on in a river’s future, developed with stakeholders with better condition to succeeding generations. We the goal of making the most of its potential, for brought people together to create this shared the benefit of all. It is the first of its kind, Vision, with input from the port, transport and covering 95 miles of the tidal Thames, running housing sectors, from local communities, through London to the North Sea. The Thames environmental organisations, sports clubs and is as iconic as the global city it runs through. others. We are very grateful for all the input and in the commitment, now, to delivering it. Over the next two decades the Vision sees the value of the Thames better understood and its We are looking forward to working with the potential realised. It sets out the enormous partners who helped develop the Vision, as opportunities for growth on and alongside the together we make the most of the tidal Thames. Thames, and its importance for the wider growth of London, Kent, Essex and beyond. It embraces growth in all aspects of river use, from trade and travel to sport and recreation. Robin Mortimer The tidal Thames sits at the centre of a capital Chief Executive city, and wider region, where projected demand Port of London Authority (PLA) for housing and jobs is unprecedented. The 4 July 2016 1 page 1 1 thames vision 2035 thames vision 2035 Summary of Thames Vision goals and priority actions Port of Inland Passenger Sport and Environment Community and London: Freight: Transport: Recreation: and Heritage: Culture: More trade, More goods off More More Improved tidal More people more jobs roads onto the river journeys participants Thames environment enjoying the Thames The busiest ever Port of London, More goods and materials Double the number of people Greater participation in sport and The river the cleanest since the and its banks handling 60 – 80 million tonnes routinely moved between travelling by river – reaching 20 recreation on and alongside the Industrial Revolution, with A riverside which is a magnet for of cargo each year, on the wharves on the river – every year million commuter and tourist water. improved habitats and ramblers, historians, artists and doorstep of Europe’s biggest over 4 million tonnes carried by trips every year. awareness of heritage. others, whether living nearby, on metropolitan consumer market. water – taking over 400,000 lorry b Ascertain current levels of sport the river or travelling from further trips off the region’s roads. b Make more efficient use of participation and work towards b Build and bring into operation afield. b Sustain private sector piers and river space, including increasing participation on and the Thames Tideway Tunnel investment b Double underlying intra-port new timetabling to manage alongside the Thames by 2021 b Enhance access to information b Improve navigational access to about the Thames freight to over 4 million tonnes peaks in traffic b Extend sport opportunity b Improve water quality by a the port b Champion the Thames as a b Innovate to achieve more zones on the Thames range of measures including b Educate local school children b Improve rail and road access about the Thames default choice for moving spoil passenger journeys at current b Realise new visitor moorings reduced litter in the river to port operations/terminals, and materials from infrastructure low peak times and publicise the availability of b Improve biodiversity of sites b Create new appropriate including: projects close to the river b Develop and implement a all visitor moorings effectively recognised for their wildlife residential moorings ࡯ Lower Thames Crossing accommodating suitable b Maintain or reactivate viable long-term pier strategy b Join up the Thames Path from interest, and the connections downstream of Tilbury, by vessels cargo handling facilities, with b Convene a consultative forum source to sea between them 2025 at least five additional facilities to address issues of wash from b Identify and improve access to, b Explore development of a ࡯ At least three further brought into operation by 2025 growth in passenger transport and appreciation of, the Thames brand for culture, Thames crossings to the heritage and quality of life b Extend the River Concordat to b Secure the infrastructure historic environment along east of Tower Bridge, that promote freight movements by required for growth in the the Thames allow continuation of river water transport of passengers and b Encourage uptake of new and trade; the first by 2022 green technologies to reduce b Develop the Thames Skills goods on the Thames ࡯ Widening of the A13, by the Academy to provide the skills the port’s environmental end of 2018 needed on the Thames impact ࡯ Closure of level crossings affecting operational terminals, by 2020 b Deliver efficient, effective and sustainable PLA harbour and pilotage services to support growth 1 page 2 1 1 page 3 1 thames vision 2035 thames vision 2035 1. Context: Development of the strategic transport network to 1.2 Thames Tideway Tunnel meet the needs of the growing city and the wider 1.1 Future development facing the river region will be essential. Investment in river A second significant context for the crossings will be part of this. Transport for Thames Vision is the Thames The Vision comes at a time when London is London has proposed 13 crossings across the Tideway Tunnel. This is the biggest growing ever bigger, and there is a major focus Thames, mostly in east London where population single investment in water and on how to meet growing demand. The capital’s growth is expected to be concentrated. 3 New sewerage infrastructure in London population is expected to grow, on current crossings need to be in the right place, with the since Balzalgette’s Victorian scheme projections, from today’s 8.6 million people to right design, taking full regard of the importance created the London embankments in 10 million by 2035, and to 11 million by 2050. of the river as a navigational waterway enshrined the nineteenth century. Like the Victorian scheme, the £4 billion A lot of the opportunity for this growth could in common law – so that the economic, Thames Tideway Tunnel will have a be delivered along the River Thames at Barking, environmental and social benefits of river use transformative effect on the Bexley, Greenwich, Havering, Newham and continue to be realised. cleanliness of the river. With the Tower Hamlets in London, and in Kent and Essex. River crossings need to be part of the Thames tunnel in operation, the Thames will These opportunities for significant new housing, Vision, not separate from it. They can then be the cleanest it has been since the as well as commercial space, infrastructure and provide the crucial infrastructure needed both in Industrial Revolution. At the same other development, frame how the Thames and building the houses and developments and in time, the river will provide the artery its banks will develop over the next two decades. supplying their needs once developed – transport for transporting up to eight million The new Mayor of London has set out the vital of people and goods. It means considering a tonnes of spoil and construction role that the River Thames plays in London’s range of crossings, including: ferries (creating material for this project. This is a economy, the movement of freight and destination points along the Thames), tunnels and very important demonstration of the passengers and the wellbeing of all Londoners.