March 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
Note that due to COVID-19 restrictions this conference will be conducted online.
The format will mirror physical conferences organised by the Forum with speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish.
The conference will be chaired and there will be opportunities for delegate questions and comments.
We will be contacting all participants in advance of the conference with full information and guidance on how to take part.
This conference is bringing together stakeholders with policymakers in local and central government to assess next steps for growth in the Thames Estuary.
Sessions focus on:
- delivering the infrastructure needed to support growth in the region,
- how best to meet the housing needs of the region,
- strengthening governance, and
- improving collaboration between local stakeholders.
The discussion takes place in the context of the:
There will be keynote contributions from:
- Councillor Roger Gough, Leader, Kent County Council; and
- Dr Ioannis Bournakis, Senior Lecturer, Economics, Middlesex University.
Further speakers include: Sarah Dance, South East Local Enterprise Partnership; Ashley Hook, mhs homes group; Duncan Innes, Swan Housing Association; David Manning, Lower Thames Crossing; Matthew Norwell, Thames Gateway Kent Partnership; Anusha Shah, Arcadis; and Hedley Swain, Arts Council England.
Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Member of Parliament for Thurrock and Leonie Cooper AM, Chair, Economy Committee, London Assembly, have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.
The agenda
- Priorities for the Thames Estuary and delivering regional growth;
- Strengthening regional governance structures and reducing barriers to growth;
- Developing infrastructure that creates the optimum conditions for sustainable development:
- Increasing the supply of new homes, and the future role of housing deals and development corporations;
- Ensuring housing delivery supports growth and provides maximum benefit to local communities;
- Next steps for delivering the Lower Thames Crossing;
- Strategies for accelerating commercial developments and attracting inward investment; and
- Implementing the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan and meeting environmental challenges.
- Priorities for unlocking economic growth in the Thames Estuary, and linking Local Industrial Strategies:
- Priorities for the Estuary’s forthcoming Local Industrial Strategies;
- Developing skills and growing employment in the region;
- Improving the cultural offering in the estuary and supporting the development of creative businesses;
- Local rail services, wider connectivity, investment and growth; and
- Next steps for and growth across the South East.
Engagement with policy officials at this conference
This Policy Forum for London conference has attracted strong interest from policymakers. We expect that amongst those taking part in this conference will be officials who have reserved places representing: MHCLG; BEIS; the Department for Transport; DWP; DCMS; Defra; HM Revenue & Customs; the Crown Commercial Service; the Department for International Trade; the Geospatial Commission; the Office of Government Property and Ofwat.
