Thames Gateway on target says Minister

Planning and housing minister Margaret Beckett has insisted that the Thames Gateway, the Government's biggest growth area, will weather the current economic storm and grow in the longer term.

Her comments came in a speech at the Thames Gateway Forum event in East London as the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) announced a raft of new measures to boost the region, including more detail on the development of an 'eco-quarter' which will be sited in an existing urban area in the sub-region.

This will provide a combination of existing buildings and new development that will develop and test new green technology and provide a showcase for sustainable development. CLG has stressed that this imitative would establish green standards which build on the Government's eco-towns programme.

Day-to-day management of the Gateway is now in the process of being handed over to the new housing and regeneration body, the Homes and Communities Agency.

Beckett said: "The financial downturn poses new challenges for towns and communities across the country. But I believe that we have sound reasons to remain optimistic for the Gateway's long-term prospects.

"Over the past year the first contracts have been awarded for the construction of the world's most advanced container port, London Gateway. New schools and campuses have opened across the region, including the Financial Skills academy at Tower Hamlets. Construction has begun on the Olympic stadium three months ahead of schedule."

She added: "Now is not the time to give up on the Gateway or start watering down our ambitions. In fact, it is more relevant today than ever before."

Read Margaret Beckett’s speech at the Thames Gateway Forum.

Read the Communities and Local Government news release.

Roger Milne

27 November 2008