The
Thames Gateway is an area of land stretching east from inner east London on both sides of the
River Thames and the
Thames Estuary. The area, which includes much
brownfield land was designated during the early years of the
Blair ministry a national priority for urban regeneration, taking advantage of the development opportunities realised by the completion of the
High Speed 1 (officially known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link). First named by the
UK government, which is unusual in the United Kingdom, uptake of and appreciation of the term varies, with many people preferring the traditional term, the
Thames Estuary.