To support the Government's agenda for growth in the Gateway, ODPM (now Communities and Local Government), originally proposed in the 2003 sustainable communities plan to commit support that would enable the development of 120,000 new dwellings up to 2016, subject to the review of the relevant regional plans (also known as regional spatial strategies).
As part of the ongoing regional spatial strategy process, it has been calculated that the Thames Gateway has the capacity to accommodate 160,000 new homes by 2016 rather than 120,000 as thought possible in 2003. In publishing the Thames Gateway Interim Plan on 22 November 2006 the Department included the housing numbers as published in the three draft regional plans, that is the East of England Plan (to be finalised and published in summer 2007), the further alterations to the London Plan (currently undergoing formal public consultation to be concluded in December 2006), and the draft south east plan (currently undergoing an examination in public). However, the housing numbers may still be subject to alteration due to the Examination in Public process or any further consultations that are carried out.
While Government have included the new housing figures as put forward by the three regional plans, the housing numbers contained within them have been calculated by the two Regional Assemblies (South East and East of England) and the Greater London Authority. Government, its agencies and the Government Offices therefore have not suggested or approved the number of new homes to be constructed within the Thames Gateway but rather included the housing numbers contained within the three regional plans subject to the Examination in Public process or any further consultations that are carried out.