The Thames Freeport is a geographical area in the United Kingdom that has been designated as a Freeport tax site by the British government on December 15, 2021.
The Thames Freeport includes the ports of Tilbury and DP World London Gateway, as well as Ford’s Dagenham plant. The tax sites within Thames Freeport are recognised by law as areas where businesses can benefit from tax reliefs to bring investment, trade, and jobs to regenerate regions across the country that need it most. The Thames Freeport is expected to draw £4.5 billion of new investment and create 21,000 skilled jobs.
Closer
Thames Freeport is closer to Europe’s largest and most economically important consumer market than any other enterprise zone. With 18 million people on its doorstep, it is the perfect place to grow your business.
Cleaner
Thames Freeport is committed to decarbonisation and the circular economy. With its intermodal capabilities across river, rail and road, it is the cleaner choice for logistics, manufacturing and investment in innovation.
Cluster
A world-class industrial cluster is taking shape on the banks of the River Thames. Thames Freeport is a beacon for clean energy technologies, added-value manufacturing, and advanced logistics, with unrivalled global connectivity to over 130 ports in over 65 countries.
Our partners
DP World London Gateway is the UK’s largest and most integrated logistics facility, with a container port handling over 2 million units per year, a rail terminal with over 60 weekly services and a 9.25 million square foot, well connected, logistics park.
The Port of Tilbury is the largest of the Thames ports. Tilbury handles 16m tonnes of cargo per annum across 31 independent working terminals including the UK’s largest grain terminal and paper hub.
Home to Ford Dagenham, the largest manufacturing site in London, this unique location gives access to regional manufacturing clusters, proximity to suppliers, and brings key production closer to the end market.
Local government partners
Thames Freeport Benefits
40% of rent equivalent saved over first five years
0% Employer National Insurance contributions for 3 years on new jobs
10% per annum enhanced structures & buildings allowance
Lean Customs Arrangements, Duty & VAT deferment
1,243 acres (503 Hectares) of development land available
100% Business Rates Relief (5 years)
Incentives now extended to September 2031
0% Stamp Duty Land Tax
Duty exemption on goods re-exported
Why Thames Freeport?
Thames Freeport is designed to make it easier for businesses to invest, grow and operate in the UK’s most connected economic corridor. Investors choose Thames Freeport for its access to London and the South East, integrated port and logistics infrastructure, skilled workforce and a delivery focused approach that turns policy into projects.
Gateway to London, Essex and the South East
Thames Freeport connects global trade and advanced industry with London and the South East, giving businesses fast access to customers, talent and supply chains. With excellent connectivity to to over 130 ports in over 65 international markets and through rail, road, river and sea links, it provides a strong base for companies that need to move goods, people and ideas efficiently. The area sits within reach of 18 million consumers and 40 universities, placing one of the UK’s largest pools of technical and professional talent within easy reach.
Market makers for investors
Thames Freeport helps investors land, scale and grow by removing barriers to delivery. We bring together land, infrastructure, planning, skills and government backed incentives to make investment simpler and faster. This is a delivery focused model. Investment is already landing, facilities are being built, and jobs are being created. Our role is to help projects move from proposal to operation.
Setting up premises in the Thames Freeport offers simplified customs procedures, reduced tariffs, and access to streamlined logistics, reducing the time and costs associated with imports and exports.
Built for What Comes Next
Thames Freeport is focused on the industries and technologies that will shape the next phase of growth, including AI, clean energy, sustainable construction, advanced manufacturing and logistics.
Through innovation programmes and real world pilots, businesses can test and deploy practical digital and operational solutions. This includes applied programmes such as the Mobile Health Innovation Platform, which brings new approaches into live settings.
Opportunity Designed In
Thames Freeport exists to connect local communities to global growth. Investment is deliberately linked to jobs, skills and progression, creating clear routes into good work for local people.mWe also take a long term approach to placemaking, with a masterplan aligned to local priorities and a strong social value framework to ensure growth delivers lasting benefit across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Thurrock.
State-of-the-art infrastructure
Our partners are world leaders in making trade flow and have invested over £2.5 billion in port and logistics infrastructure over the past 10 years, with over £3 billion of further investment planned. The Thames Freeport offers modern infrastructure tailored to the unique needs of manufacturers, including temperature-controlled storage, distribution facilities, and advanced production spaces. Investment in hydrogen and alternative fuel infrastructure will spur the development of a green logistics cluster with enormous growth potential.
Tax & Customs Benefits
Enjoy a range of tax incentives, making it more affordable to set-up and operate your manufacturing or value-add processing facility within the Freeport. Setting up premises in the Thames Freeport offers simplified customs procedures, reduced tariffs, and access to streamlined logistics, reducing the time and costs associated with imports and exports.
