The Thames Gateway Regeneration Project - Thomson Snell and ...

Impact of the regeneration project on businessHow has your business been affected or how do youexpect your business to be affected by the ThamesGateway Regeneration Project?PositiveOver half of those who perceived the impact positively saw thekey opportunities as being more business, better transport andinfrastructure and better training/skills. A third saw more generalbenefits such as economic and environmental improvementsand expansion.Overall, those with a positive view saw the regeneration projectattracting more (and larger) businesses, more people and moreinvestment to the area, which in turn would lead to morewealth, more customers and increased demand for theirproducts and services as well as increased property asset valuesand a more positive attitude by local people.Some commented on the value of an improved profile andawareness of the area and its improved accessibility toLondon leading to a range of benefits including a better locallabour market.NegativeThe majority of those viewing the impacts negatively saw the lackof infrastructure and the ensuing traffic congestion as a concern.There were various mentions of the wisdom of housing andmajor developments in flood plain areas and concerns that theproject was focused too much on housing with insufficientattention paid to other regeneration such as industry.There were contradictory views about the impact on the localworkforce – some feared the enhanced train links would lead toan outflow of quality local workers whilst others saw theincreased population facing a dearth of well paid local jobs.One respondent commented on the need for regeneration to beconsidered at a regional level rather than a local level to avoidunanticipated problems being created in nearby areas of Kent.Others feared that resources and attention would be focused onnew communities at the expense of established ones.How do you think the proposed developments in KentThameside, Medway and Swale might impact onyour business?EDG H IFCJBADon't know/no commentPositivelyNo impactMore people purchasing commercialproperty in the areaIncreased businessNot applicableMore people coming into the areaLose out to competitionBetter infrastructureProvide industrial developments“Greater number of rental properties and more people lookingto buy” Property investment“Nothing would damage our ability to perform and we onlysee potential benefits” Electronics“Positively – always opportunities. Stock transfers will berelevant” Housing“Favourably provided that the zoned areas for industrialdevelopment remain as they have been discussed with us”Industrial processing“Cynically the big boys will have all of it – if the £1 million to£2 million one-off jobs soak up all the labour” Construction“It will worsen the road system and therefore congestion.Financially I do not believe it will make any difference”PrintingWhere there was awareness of the developments, the reactionwas largely positive with an increase in business, betterinfrastructure and more people moving into and buying in the areaanticipated. A concern is that half of those interviewed wereunaware of the developments and therefore unable to commenton what the impact on their business might be. This lack ofawareness could be a threat to indigenous North Kent businesses.ABCDEFGHIJOther key concerns were increased competition – particularly iflarger businesses won the lion’s share of resources and benefits –and overcrowding. There were also fears about priority beinggiven to larger companies, increased environmental protectionismand increased demand on local services and resources.10