What we do.

The Thames Estuary is Britain’s biggest growth opportunity, with the potential to create 1.3m jobs and £190bn GVA to UK economy. To fulfil its potential, the 2050 Growth Commission was presented to the UK Government, who responded by setting up a dedicated Thames Estuary Growth Board, led by our Estuary Envoy, Kate Willard OBE. Together, we have developed an exciting and ambitious action plan, called “The Green Blue”, to transform the area and allow it to thrive.

The Thames Estuary is the place where the River Thames meets the North Sea. In the south east of England, it covers North Kent, South Essex, East London, the City of London, as well as the Thames itself. There are 17 local authority areas, these are: Barking & Dagenham, Basildon, Bexley, Canterbury, Castlepoint, Dartford, Gravesham, Greenwich, Havering, Maidstone, Medway, Newham, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Swale, Thanet, and Thurrock.

The “Green Blue” is our dedicated Board’s ambitious plan to maximise the benefits and opportunities in the UK’s number one growth opportunity, The Thames Estuary. This region covers the capital’s most important waterway, the River Thames and the land, communities, places and businesses that are bound to it.

We call this plan “The Green Blue”. The “Blue” refers to the water of the Thames: the UK’s most important waterway, and the potential it creates for the area. It is “Green” because we will fulfil the area’s growth potential in a sustainable way, working with the environment, never against it.

The Thames Estuary Growth Board’s goal is to deliver green, economic growth for the area, and for the country. We will achieve this by connecting and activating the high-investment hydro-economy of the Thames Estuary.

We are enabling improvements to key infrastructure projects, responding to housing challenges, backing cultural and creative programmes, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs and boosting the economy.

Our dedicated Growth Board is about more than just talking – we are about action. We work closely with local communities, businesses, authorities and residents, building partnerships to make great things happen.

Situated on a world-famous, multi-functional river, the Thames Estuary has unique advantages for businesses. A thriving hub for import and export, the river offers freight solutions for national and international trade. We offer viable access to international markets and directly into London, thanks to our location on the Thames.

Transforming the Thames Estuary offers residents the opportunity for a cleaner, healthier future with a beautiful area to live, rich in green spaces. We are working to improve access to these spaces and the riverside. We also hope to provide more extensive housing opportunities by responding to housing challenges and enabling digital connectivity.

If you have a question about the opportunities in the Thames Estuary and how you can get involved, contact us, we would love to hear from you.

Kate Willard OBE, our Estuary Envoy, is leading our Growth Board to drive forward our Green Blue action plan with direct connections to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The board will speak as one coherent, unified voice. Kate has laid out a set of five criteria for what we will and will not do:

1. We will add value and not duplicate. We will see where we are needed, and where we are not. We will help when we are needed, and won’t when we are not.
2. We expect to be held to account. This Board and this Envoy are backed by the government and have a real responsibility to deliver.
3. We will set clear targets and report on these.
4. We will lead by listening. There are lots of good and great voices to be heard.
5. Most importantly we will have a single voice, the Thames Estuary Growth Board, to communicate the aspirations for the Estuary.

The Thames Estuary Growth Board, led by government-appointed Envoy Kate Willard OBE, brings together members from across North Kent, South Essex, East London, the City of London and the River Thames to work as one, unified voice.

The Thames Estuary Growth Board includes a mixture of private and public Board members. Possessing a high level of expertise in their area and fresh to this type of project, each member has the drive and ambition to bring in new thinking. They are at the razor-sharp, cutting edge of business and are crystal clear about the Thames Estuary we want to create.

Meet our brilliant Board and Exec Team.

Our dedicated Growth Board is responsible for driving forward our action plan, “The Green Blue”.  It is our role to make the most of the region’s unique assets and unparalleled location to turn its potential into good, green growth for the local area and the national economy. We bring together the right people with the right skills and work closely with businesses, investors, residents and communities, building partnerships to transform the area. We connect with local and central government on delivery of key actions; and drive forward priorities that help regenerate and improve the area.

We also work to leverage significant amounts of private sector investment and make the Estuary the most compelling investment proposition. Each Board member is brilliant: possessing a high level of expertise in their area and fresh to this type of project, they have the drive and ambition to bring in new thinking and deliver the greenest and most productive estuary in the world.

Find out more about what we do.

Yes. The Thames Estuary is a great place for green businesses and companies looking to become more environmentally friendly. We are all about green growth, and maximising sustainability through the Estuary’s prime location. We are pushing forward a number of green initiatives, including supporting development of decarbonisation technologies, the greening of transport and energy across the Estuary, and backing an action plan in response to the Government commissioned natural capital study. There are many businesses of all shapes and sizes in the Estuary that are growing whilst positively impacting and enhancing the environment.

Find out about the Estuary Visionary businesses that are growing in a green way.

Read our news about sustainable initiatives developing across the Estuary.

The Thames Estuary Envoy is Kate Willard OBE. She has been appointed by the Government to drive forward “The Green Blue” action plan to transform the area. The Estuary Envoy chairs the Thames Estuary Growth Board, delivering the programme of work that will breathe new life into the area. The Estuary Envoy is responsible for appointing members to the Growth Board and championing the Estuary nationally and internationally.

Kate was CEO of the UK’s first rural regeneration company and during that period was headhunted by Stobart Group where she has now been for 12 years. Kate will continue in her role at Stobart in a reduced capacity, working closely with national government departments, local authorities and other partnerships.

In addition, Kate has a number of non-executive roles, including Chair of Arts Council North and also sits on the Arts Council’s National Council. She has lived and worked in Hungary, France and Belgium as an independent regeneration expert with the European Commission on major transnational projects in employment, social cohesion and regional development.

Find out more about Kate and the team here.

The Thames Estuary is backed by the Government as the UK’s biggest growth opportunity. With the potential to create 1.3million jobs and add value of up to £190bn to the nation’s economy, it is integral to growth and recovery post-Brexit and post-Covid.

Our Envoy, Kate Willard OBE, was appointed by the government to drive forward our Green Blue action plan and deliver good, green growth. With direct connections to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Kate keeps the government updated on progress and uses her contacts to create partnerships and make things happen.

The Thames Estuary Growth Board is keen to help businesses in the area to grow and encourage businesses to re-locate to this dynamic region.

If you would like to find out more contact us, we can’t wait to hear from you.