Supporters outline commitment and hope for future

Thames Freeport is pleased to release a digest of quotes covering our bid consortium’s headline investment, sustainability and operational commitments, alongside a range of supportive comments from across the business, logistics and political communities.

On 5 February, the bid consortium promoting the Thames Freeport lodged their comprehensive bid with the Government for a digitally-linked economic zone connecting Ford’s world-class Dagenham engine plant, the global ports at London Gateway and Tilbury, large development employment areas and many river communities in need of regeneration.

"DP World has already invested £1.5billion+ in the UK and I’ve earmarked £1billion more for investment in our London Gateway site over the next 10 years. We’ll continue to work closely with the UK government on the freeports bid process in the coming weeks." SULTAN AHMED BIN SULAYEM
GROUP CHAIRMAN & CEO , DP WORLD
"Tilbury is the fulcrum of our port network built upon a pedigree of sustained innovation-backed growth.

"The Forth Ports' board is committed to invest at scale in our assets and across our substantial development areas to ensure that the Thames Freeport is a success." LORD SMITH OF KELVIN KT CH
CHAIRMAN, FORTH PORTS GROUP
“Freeports will be an effective way of underpinning Britain’s economy post-Brexit and post-Covid by further enabling trade with the rest of the world and creating zones which will act as catalysts for commerce, creativity and prosperity.” ALAN SHAOUL
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, DP WORLD UK
"As part of Thames Freeport, we expect to develop Dagenham as a technology spoke for electrified, zero-emission and autonomous technologies." DR GRAHAM HOARE OBE
CHAIRMAN & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION,
FORD OF BRITAIN
“Exporters will be able to take advantage of Thames Freeport’s connectivity to every continent, our proven track-and-trace technology system and modern training facilities to ensure the Thames Estuary remains a magnet for investment across the aerospace, automotive and the many complex manufacturing and processing businesses along this important industrial corridor.” STUART WALLACE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, FORTH PORTS
"This bid hits the spot and – critically – will deliver regeneration through job creation in this Parliament. The vision to create a centre of excellence to electrify, automate and digitise catalysing the Thames’ net zero transformation I endorse wholeheartedly." KATE WILLARD OBE
THAMES ESTUARY ENVOY
“By bringing Thames Enterprise Park into the bid, we can unlock many more benefits than might otherwise have been possible. It means that the bid can go further in stimulating the economic, social and environmental benefits not only for Thurrock and for the estuary region, but also for the UK. That’s something that we want to be part of and where we see that we can contribute to a collective success story.” JONATHAN WHITTINGHAM
DIRECTOR, THAMES ENTERPRISE PARK
“The Thames Freeport is such an exciting proposition and speaks to the priorities we have recognised in our forthcoming Recovery and Renewal Strategy."

A freeport in this area will play a critical role in levelling up deprived communities, boosting the skills of the local workforce, providing local opportunities in areas that have experienced long-term unemployment and deprivation.

“The Thames Freeport will act as a coastal catalyst, leveraging trade links into our area and will provide a platform for collaboration on major innovation challenges such as hydrogen, automation and the circular economy.” CHRISTIAN BRODIE
CHAIR, SOUTH EAST LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP
"The Government is committed to tackling deprivation wherever it occurs. Thurrock is the ports capital of the UK, but it's also among the country’s top 25 most skills-deprived areas. The freeport will unleash the best of the private sector to turbocharge the river communities with new and better jobs fit for the 21st century." JACKIE DOYLE-PRICE MP
"The freeport will act as a catalyst for green growth, with Dagenham at its centre. I wholeheartedly support Ford's impressive plans for their site, alongside the greater use of the river for intra-port movements in an effort to reshape urban logistics by removing vehicles from the roads.

"I commend DP World, Forth Ports and the PLA's commitment through the industry-wide charter to uphold the highest employment, environmental and social standards throughout the operation of the Thames Freeport." JON CRUDDAS MP
"The Thames Freeport consortium creates a striking investment proposition.

"A network of global connections, land ready for development and an established trade facilitation platform through the Department for International Trade makes this a compelling package for substantial fresh inward investment in this parliament." JULIE TANKARD
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY
“We are lending our support to the bid to ensure increased economic prosperity benefits our residents.

“We are looking forward to helping secure more opportunities across regeneration, green growth, a massive shift to rail use and bringing jobs to the borough, so that the people of Barking and Dagenham benefit." CLLR DARREN RODWELL
LEADER, BARKING AND DAGENHAM COUNCIL
"From our world-leading partner in the Royal Opera House, six growth hubs and our ambitions to expand our digital clusters, Thurrock has the vital ingredients to ensure an innovation backed Thames Freeport is a success for future generations.

"The success of our logistics cluster is an integral component of our strategy to create sustainable growth with better job opportunities for our community." LYN CARPENTER,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THURROCK COUNCIL
"Fresh investment, substantial employment opportunities, 21st century skills development and technological advancement are key to Britain's pandemic recovery.

"A Thames Freeport will boost the national and regional economies at a critical time for UK plc." STEPHEN METCALFE MP
"From top-to-bottom, the Thames Freeport will be the best-in-class. The national charter underscores our commitment to operate the freeport to the highest international standards.

"We will meet the OECD Code of Conduct for Clean Free Trade Zones and we are investigating a number of international accreditations, including innovation Green Zone status." CAROLE CRAN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, FORTH PORTS
"A successful bid will unlock new opportunities increasing access to training and higher pay levels across the entire borough. Thurrock will be more attractive than ever to investors, businesses and entrepreneurs. This could include skills academies coming to Thurrock, giving our residents access to specialist training."

"This isn't just about extra port jobs, it's about creating opportunity after opportunity not just for now, but for our children and even their children." CLLR ROB GLEDHILL
LEADER, THURROCK COUNCIL
“It’s really encouraging to see serious freeports propositions like that on the Thames rising to the challenge issued by the Government to deliver bids offering transformational potential for strong gateways for trade and for the prosperity and opportunity of local communities.

"They also demonstrate commitment to high standards and growing social value in vital areas like environmental improvement and skills development.” TIM MORRIS
CEO, UK MAJOR PORTS GROUP
"More than ever, ports and terminals across the UK need robust digital and transport connectivity.

"The best freeport bids will be centred on high-quality distribution networks - whether that's for exporters seeking access to emerging global markets or for importers requiring a low carbon rail alternative to long- or short-haul road journeys." MAGGIE SIMPSON OBE
DIRECTOR GENERAL, RAIL FREIGHT GROUP
"I am very pleased to hear that Barking & Dagenham councillors are backing the creation of a freeport on the Thames near the Ford plant in Dagenham. This kind of regeneration is exactly what’s needed to help the borough with its post-Covid recovery." UNMESH DESAI
AM FOR BARKING & DAGENHAM, CITY OF LONDON, NEWHAM,
TOWER HAMLTS
“The ports sector is a highly skilled industry. The advantages are huge, it’s giving good quality, highly paid manufacturing jobs to the area. It’s a great opportunity and I urge everyone to get behind it. Thurrock and Barking and Dagenham are some of the most-deprived areas in the country and this is an opportunity to level up the area.” CLLR MARK COXSHALL
CABINET MEMBER FOR REGENERATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING,
THURROCK COUNCIL
“It’s an exciting time for those that can maximise the benefits of freeport status like the Thames and other port areas.

"A lot of our port areas are around deprived regions. Ports are hubs of activity and economic drivers, which leads to a strong and sustainable skills base. This strategy allows new development to come in and well-paid jobs for the local community.” RICHARD BALLANTYNE
CEO, BRITISH PORTS ASSOCIATION

The bid headlines:

£5.1 billion additional GVA
Over £4.5 billion in new public and private investment
25,000+ new jobs with many more across supply chains, with significant investment in training and skills
1,700 acres of development land – much with planning consent
£400 million port investment into some of the most deprived areas
20% of the UK’s most deprived communities are in London and the South East
Freeports are in our DNA – DP World began as a free trade zone in Jebel Ali, while Tilbury was a freeport until 2012.

See the Thames Freeport website / Twitter / LinkedIn pages for more information.