A story in yesterday's Sunday Times suggests that Gulf magnates who worked on the artificial “palm” islands of Dubai are proposing to build two artificial islands in the Thames estuary.
The ambitious plans include major yacht marinas, as well as theatres, an opera house and housing, all connected by a six-mile bridge spanning the estuary between Sheppey in Kent and Southend on the Essex side.
If it goes ahead the project would be one of the main parts of the government's long-delayed £9 billion redevelopment of the Thames Gateway. The bridge and island proposal was originally drawn up by Sir Terry Farrell, architect of the MI6 headquarters in London and designer of the Thames Gateway masterplan.
Dubai construction firms are understood to have joined a consortium of potential investors, although they will not consider going any further until ministers have responded to the idea.
“This would be a first for Britain but in Holland and Dubai they've been doing it for ages,” said Martin Nielsen, a director of Scott Wilson, the engineering consultancy which has taken up Farrell's original idea.
The plan is for one of the islands to be joined to the end of Southend's renowned 1.3mile pier.
Large towns would be created on both islands with a marina on the south of the main island. This would be the first point of call for yachts travelling from Europe to London.
A new marina in the lower Thames would also be potentially very useful to yachtsmen travelling to London from elsewhere on the English coast, as it can be difficult to reach the capital in a single tide, progress against the tide is almost impossible and mooring options are relatively limited. However, the existence of the islands, constricting the flow within the estuary would make navigating the already fierce tidal streams even more challenging.
The plans apparently acknowledge this, promising a seafront be lined with shops, cafes and apartments - behind beaches facing away from the strong currents created by partially blocking the estuary.
Architects believe the islands would help to protect London from tidal surges, which could become a greater danger if sea levels rise.
The centrepiece of the development would be an arch formed by two 450ft-high piers suspending the bridge, high enough for any ship to pass under.
The idea of a bridge is backed by Kent county council. The Department for Transport also confirmed it was investigating options for providing additional capacity in the area.
Ministers have been criticised for failing to implement the Thames Gateway plan which calls for 160,000 homes and 180,000 jobs by 2016.
Architect Farrell hopes the gateway can be changed into the world's first “eco-region”, with developments in protected countryside and parkland. “It encompasses a rich mix of rural and urban landscapes,” he said.
“My role as design champion for the Gateway parklands is all about improving links in the region and reconnecting people to the landscape. It's ambitious stuff, and I'm hopeful the local and national leadership is there to develop and deliver the vision.”
Eric Pickles, shadow communities secretary, said the government should take the islands and bridge proposal seriously. “We need this crossing. If we're not careful, the gateway is going to be just a commuter dormitory.”
