Thames Vision Priority Actions

To achieve the six goals a series of Priority Actions need to be taken by the PLA and others.

The full list of actions is here:

Port of London: More trade, more jobs

•  Sustained private sector investment

•  Continued improvements to the main navigation channels

•  Lower Thames crossing downstream of Tilbury, by 2025

•  Widening of A13, by the end of 2018

•  Electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line, by Summer 2017

•  At least three further Thames crossings to the east of Tower Bridge, that allow continuation of river trade; the first by 2022

•  Closure of level crossings affecting operational terminals, by 2020

Passenger transport: More journeys

•  Double the number of people travelling by river – reaching 20 million commuter and tourist trips every year

•  Make more efficient use of piers and river space, including new timetabling to manage peaks in traffic

•  Encourage more use at current low peak times

•  Long-term pier strategy, going beyond the existing River Action Plan: new piers at Thamesmead, Erith, Greenhithe, Swanscombe, Grays & Tilbury by 2025

Inland freight: More goods off roads onto the river

•  Establish the Thames as the default choice for transport of waste and construction materials; and increasingly containerised goods

•  Protect and reactivate safeguarded wharves with at least Peruvian, Orchard

•  and Hurlingham wharves brought into operation over the next decade

•  Work with Transport for London and the Greater London Authority to extend the River Concordat to promote freight movements by water

•  Establish a Thames Skills Academy by Autumn 2016, to provide a sustainable model for skills development on the Thames

Environment and heritage: Improved tidal Thames environment

•  Tideway to build and bring the Thames Tideway Tunnel into operation by 2023

•  Water quality improves to ‘good’

•  Joined-up Thames Path running from Teddington to the sea

•  Improve biodiversity of nature reserves: wherever practicable all Sites of Special Scientific Interest along the river brought into ‘favourable’ condition

Sport and recreation: More participants

•  Sport opportunity zones from Kew Bridge to Richmond, Putney Bridge to Chelsea and east of Greenwich

•  Establish and work towards a target for sport participation on the Thames

•  More visitor moorings in appropriate locations on a busier river

Community and culture: More people enjoying the Thames and its banks

•  New residential moorings in appropriate locations on a busier river

•  Ensure that houseboats are moored appropriately and find innovative solutions to reduce the impact of wash

•  Explore development of a Thames brand for culture, heritage and quality of life, including support for Totally Thames