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Now in its fifth year, the Thames Gateway Forum is the definitive event for the development of the Thames Gateway region
 The two-day conference is a magnet for anyone involved or interested in the Thames Gateway including property developers, planners, architects, and local and central government. Delegates gather to hear the latest government announcements, learn from key leading figures and view new and exciting development proposals.
The Prime Minister chose last year’s Forum to announce that an additional £9 billion of government funds will be ploughed into the Gateway over the next three years. His decision to make the announcement at the Thames Gateway Forum is a reflection of the exceptional profile of the event, as well as providing the highest level of political endorsement for the Thames Gateway.
Debate the future
The Thames Gateway Forum 2008 will be held at the ExCeL exhibition centre on 26 and 27 November. As well as providing an opportunity to debate the region’s future, the event will also examine progress that has been made over the last 12 months. And the fact of the matter is that despite the difficult economic conditions, progress is still being made in the Thames Gateway – the story for this year is the region is the place that will buck the national trend. Many of the Forum’s regular exhibitors have long-term interests in the Gateway and will be attending to ensure that their schemes remain at the forefront of people’s minds.
Highlights of the last year include the completion of the High Speed 1 line allowing Eurostar services to run from St Pancras to Paris via the new Ebbsfleet International station and the granting of planning permission for London Gateway – a new world-class deep-water port and business park at Thurrock. And work at the Olympic Park is, of course, continuing at impressive speed.
Turning to the event itself we expect new Housing Minister Margaret Beckett MP to launch the event from the popular keynote stage, which will later play host to an array of world-class speakers. With the new Homes and Communities Agency (HACA) coming into existence in early December, chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake and Joe Montgomery, Director General, CLG will deliver a timely key note speech at 11.15 on the first day. Sir Bob has indicated that he is keen to review all delivery arrangements for the Gateway and his speech will therefore be eagerly anticipated.
Environmental issues
Green infrastructure has risen to the top of the Gateway agenda over the past year with the creation of the Thames Gateway Parklands Programme. The ministerial drive for the project is coming from the CLG, which has chosen long-term protagonist Sir Terry Farrell to lead the initiative. Sir Terry’s keynote speech at 1pm on the first day will be a must for everyone involved in ensuring that regeneration and development in the Gateway takes place in a stunning environmental setting, respects the rich heritage and natural assets of the area, and embraces the low-carbon challenge.
The modular conference programme will run over the two days featuring 14 specialist sessions led by the Gateway’s leading regeneration experts covering topics as diverse as the credit crunch, international best practice, transport and sustainability.
The first day’s programme includes a session run by newly appointed chair of the London Development Agency, Harvey McGrath looking at progress with the Gateway’s ‘Big Four’ key economic transformers; Ebbsfleet Valley, London Gateway, the Lower Lea Valley (including the Olympic Park) and Canary Wharf.
The second day includes modules focusing on a number of key transformative developments in East London, South Essex and North Kent. This will be complimented by sessions examining the realities of delivering zero carbon homes, and harnessing public and private investment.
Transport infrastructure
Transport infrastructure is arguably the most important catalyst to the successful regeneration of the Thames Gateway. For the first time ever, an event specifically focusing on the development of an integrated transport system will be run as part of the Thames Gateway Forum programme. The one-day conference will feature leading industry experts including Keith Berryman, managing director at Crossrail and Hugh Sumner, director of Transport at the Olympic Delivery Authority.
The programme, for the first time, also includes two free to attend seminar streams that collectively boast over 80 top-level speakers in nearly 30 presentations. State of the Gateway LIVE will highlight the progress, priorities and development opportunities within each Gateway region and Building the UK’s first ecoregion will showcase the opportunities and application of sustainable technologies in the Thames Gateway. These and a greatly expanded fringe programme promise to make the 2008 Forum the biggest and most significant yet.
For more information
For further information visit www.thamesgatewayforum.com or call 0870 787 9493
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