Thames Hub ‘airport in the estuary’
Lord Foster’s vision of an airport on reclaimed land in the Thames estuary.
Lord Foster, chairman and founder of Foster + Partners in the UK, has launched proposals for the ‘Thames Hub,’ which the companies describe as “an integrated vision for Britain.”
Foster + Partners and Halcrow have worked together on a self funded study to produce a detailed vision for the Thames Hub. The study is unique for its scale and strategic cross-sector thinking and the outcome is a holistic vision for future infrastructure development in Britain.
“Britain can no longer trade on an inadequate and aged infrastructure. A fast growing population and an evolving global economy demand that the quality of the UK’s infrastructure be improved and its capacity increased dramatically”, said the company, noting that its study describes proposals for a ‘Spine’ which combines rail, energy, communications and data running the length of the UK. The Spine is fed by a Thames Hub, which brings together a new river barrier and crossing, an international airport built partly on reclaimed land, and a shipping and rail complex.
“Recognising the synergies between rail, freight logistics, aviation, energy and its transmission, flood protection and regional development, it reaps the benefits of their integration, said Foster + Partners, claiming that the Thames Hub “will lay the foundations for the future prosperity of Britain” and “put in place the transport connections Britain needs in order to maximise its trade links with the rest of the world.”
Lord Foster, founder and chairman of Foster + Partners said, “If we are to establish a modern transport and energy infrastructure in Britain for this century and beyond, we need to recapture the foresight and political courage of our 19th century forebears and draw on our traditions of engineering, design and landscape. If we don’t then we are denying future generations to come. We are rolling over and saying we are no longer competitive, and this is a competitive world. So I do not believe we have a choice.”
Halcrow group board director David Kerr said, “As infrastructure specialists, our role is to support society by taking on the big issues that affect us all; water, transportation, energy, and creating places to live and work. Great challenges require bold solutions, which is why I believe our Thames Hub vision is critical to society and to the country’s economic prosperity. If we don’t sustain and invest in infrastructure, then it’s at our peril. If the UK is to remain globally competitive, these proposals need to be seriously considered.”
The Halcrow and Foster + Partners Thames Hub vision is supported by economist Bridget Rosewell, chairman of Volterra Consulting and founder member of The Thames Estuary Research and Development Company (TESTRAD).
The new barrier crossing that would form part of the Thames Hub would extend flood protection to London and the Thames Gateway into the 22nd century. The barrier would also harness tidal power to generate carbon-free energy. The Estuary Airport, which would be capable of handling 150m passengers per annum, would enable the UK to retain its global aviation hub status.
The hub plan also includes a comprehensive environmental management strategy that minimises the impact of development and provides opportunities to create significant new wildlife habitats to more than offset losses elsewhere. The project would also be a catalyst to reduce pressure on foreshore habitats from rising sea levels and storm activity.
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