Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the planned lifespan is of the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission; and what its budget is per annum.

The Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission was announced at Budget 2016. The Growth Commission was tasked with developing a vision and delivery plan for the Thames Estuary up to 2050. With this task complete, the Commission has disbanded.

Government has backed the Growth Commission’s recommendation to reform governance in the Estuary, and has supported the establishment of the Thames Estuary Growth Board. The first Estuary Envoy, Kate Willard, was appointed on 30 October 2019 to chair this Board. The Thames Estuary Growth Board formally launched on 21 July 2020

The Thames Estuary Growth Board’s overall budget was £1.4 million in 2020/21. The Growth Board's operating budget for 2021/22 is subject to business case approval.