Supporting World Class Production, Innovation and Talent in the Thames Estuary

The Greater London Authority (GLA) and South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) have launched an ambitious new strategy to reposition the Thames Estuary as a globally significant cluster for creative production.

The strategy for Thames Estuary Production Corridor (TEPC) has been developed by Hatch Regeneris, We Made That and Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy, following a year of research, engagement, and partnership building across Estuary.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has expressed his desire for the Estuary to become “a world class centre for production – leading global innovation, developing talent and cultivating world changing ideas”. This builds upon various initiatives and partnerships across the region as well as significant momentum in the creative and cultural economies of places in the Thames Estuary.

The area is home to some of London’s most fastest growing and most vibrant locations, alongside rapidly evolving cultural destinations such as Margate, Southend and Purfleet.  Building on the area’s manufacturing legacy, the TEPC will secure new investment in large scale, state-of-the-art cultural production centres across the Estuary. It will provide help to existing creative industries while encouraging new creative clusters and hotspots.  The strategy seeks to unlock the considerable talent and potential which exists across the area.

Studio developments are already planned in Dagenham, Ebbsfleet, Purfleet and Ashford, whilst creative production forms a key tenet of the ongoing plans for the Royal Docks, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Lewisham and Bexley Riverside. Existing assets such as the Royal Opera House Production facility in Thurrock are thriving, with plans for expansion and diversification.

The Hatch Regeneris-led team has compiled a detailed evidence base and strategic narrative to underpin this ambitious vision, and to establish the routes to delivery.

The research estimates that long-term investment in the Thames Estuary’s creative industries could deliver over 50,000 new jobs, adding an extra £3.1bn to the UK economy. The team has already helped the TEPC partnership to unlock £4.6m of investment from central government to support the initial development of projects and partnerships in Essex and Kent. Next steps include detailed discussions with a range of public and private sector partners who will come together to make TEPC a reality.

Further information and a summary of the strategy can be accessed here

Further detailed reports will be published in the coming months.  For more information please contact Barney Cringle or Chris Paddock

 

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