World class Institute to deliver commercial solutions to sustainable living gets government green light
Housing Minister Margaret Beckett announced the creation of a multi-million pound research centre based in the Thames Gateway set to support the development of practical and commercial innovations aimed at reducing negative impacts on the environment.
The Thames Gateway Institute for Sustainability represents collaboration by acknowledged global leaders in academia and business to form a public-private partnership driven by the needs of the commercial sector.
The Institute will operate out of two facilities: the first, located at The Bridge in Dartford, is already established; a second £40 million purpose-built facility will be construced at the Sustainable Industires Park in Dagenham. Over the next three years, the Institute will provide over £10 million of research and demonstration projects that will aid the delivery of the Thames Gateway.
The Institute's reputation for international research excellence will be combined with programmes aimed at demonstrating and sharing best practice in sustainable living; its unique approach to commercially driven research will bring new innovations to the market more quickly.
With the contribution of the environmental technology sector set to double over the next eight years - it is already worth over £24 billion to the UK economy - the Institute will act as a magnet for inward investment and stimulate new jobs growth.
A number of early research projects are focusing on construction, energy and waste.
Jeremy Watson, Director of Global Research at Arup and Board Member of the Institute, said: "We firmly believe that the Institute presents a huge opportunity, not only to reduce our environmental impact, but also to capitalise on this rapidly growing market. Arup is actively involved in China's eco-city project, together with partners such as HSBC and Sustainable Development Capital LLP. We are bringing our experience to the Thames Gateway Institute for Sustainability, with the aim of establishing a global network to share best practice in environmental technology."
Ed Metcalfe, Chief Scientific Advisor at South East England Development Agency, said: "Located in Europe's largest urban regeneration project, with facilities at Dagenham and Dartford, the Institute provides a real opportunity to test and implement new technologies on active development sites around the region. As such, it will provide credible, independent data on their performance in use, which will support the growth of British businesses investing in this area."
Ian Short, Deputy Chief Executive London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, concluded: "The Institute is central to the government's plan to establish Thames Gateway as the world's first eco region. It will boost inward investment into the region and business incubation space at the Institute will help to stimulate local enterprise. This will drive economic growth and help to transform the perception of the Thames Gateway as it becomes a showcase for best practice in sustainable development and communities."