The Thames Gateway Project.

One of the aims of the Thames Gateway project is to improve transport links for all. This includes schemes such the Public Transport Orientated Development (PTOD). This encourages higher density development along public transport corridors and enables people to live close to good public transport links. Another scheme is Fastrack, which is a new rapid transportation system providing access for all. It will have the of a modern tram system, but they will use rubber tyres that will allow the vehicle to adjust routes as new development takes place. It will operate high frequency services, with the vehicles having their own track, so they will have priority over other traffic. Another scheme to improve the public transport would be The Thames Gateway Bridge. The bridge would cross the Thames at Gallions Reach, connecting Beckton in the borough of Newham to Thamesmead in the borough of Greenwich. The areas on either side of the river near the proposed bridge form part of the Thames Gateway area, which has enormous potential. It will give better access to training, schools, healthcare, and leisure. The bridge will result in major travel time savings in the area, but the bridge is predicted to mean an increase in traffic in some areas during construction and afterwards. The bridge would be designed to the highest standards and it is intended that its design should help promote the local area. The bridge cannot be too high or it would interfere with flight paths into the nearby London City Airport, nor too low, as ships using the Thames would not have enough room to pass underneath. The bridge also has to be aligned to connect with local roads. These limiting factors rule out a suspension bridge. The design most suited to this location would be likely to take the form of a bridge deck supported by piers. A toll will be charged on the bridge to fund its costs; it will be £1 for local residents and £2 for everyone else.

Another aim of the Thames Gateway Project is to create a structure of attractive open spaces. Thames Gateway London Partnership has been co-ordinating the Green Grid programme on behalf of the East London Green Grid Steering Group. The Green Grid will create a better environmental context for development, enhance biodiversity and ecological values, and improve flood risk management opportunities. The Green Grid also supports the vision identified in the Government's "Creating Sustainable Communities. Delivering the Green Grid will involve the creation of new public areas and the enhancement of existing parks and green spaces.

The Thames Gateway project has set a plan to build 200,000 new homes. Most of this development is on brownfield sites, with a small amount of development on Greenfield sites to develop new kinds of public services. The government estimates in the next thirty years a third of new housing in the Thames Gateway will be built in the Kent Thameside area. Good progress has already been made with twelve percent of the target now achieved.

The Thames Gateway Project also hopes to create 60,000 new job opportunities. Creating a successful sustainable mixed-use community means providing as many facilities and jobs as close to where people live. Twenty-three percent of the target for new jobs has already been achieved. The Thames Gateway project also hopes to develop over fifteen million square feet of brand new commercial buildings. Twenty percent of this target has already been attained. The development of the new commercial centre at Ebbsfleet, Kent Thameside will add a new aspect, reinforcing its location as the future place to do business.

Significant concerns have been raised because the Thames Gateway project proposes removing parts of and building on the North Kent Marshes, which are recognised as an Environmentally Sensitive Area by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and are largely covered by Sites of Special Scientific Interest. There are also fears of increased erosion. The Environment Agency assesses these systems will provide a high standard of protection well beyond 2030. However, they also advise that future development in the Thames Gateway must go hand in hand with flood risk management, and take account of future plans for flood protection. The Agency insists it is important that effective flood risk management of the whole Estuary be not prejudiced by early decisions and development on the Gateway.