Man-made islands for Thames Estuary?

Picture three, huge man-made islands just off Southend Pier with a new national park and a road and rail crossing from Kent to Shoebury incorporating a flood barrier.

Click here to view the plan for the Thames

Pipe dreams? Or could this ambitious blueprint ever become a reality?

Acclaimed architect Sir Terry Farrell has won the support of some of the UK's most respected companies to draw up plans for the new Thames National Park.

Central to his scheme are three, man-made islands in the estuary.

The islands would create 24,000 acres of woodland; a green lung in the heart of south-east England offering a unique wildlife habitat.

Some new homes would be built and the islands would have a beach and a water activity centre.

One of the islands would be used for industry, possibly for power generation.

But more importantly, they would offer vital protection for London and south Essex from flooding.

The islands would help reduce the peaks of tidal surge up the estuary.

A new road link between the Isle of Grain in Kent and Shoebury could be included.

Sir Terry said he first came up with the concept three years ago and has since won the support of leading multi-national companies, including Halifax Bank of Scotland, Scott Wilson, an international consultancy firm, and Experian, an international credit agency.

Sir Terry added: "The crossing will have both road and rail links.

"The official Government response to the scheme is that it's too expensive and too ambitious.

"But the point I'm making is that it shouldn't cost the taxpayer anything, because I've got private industry involved."

He was not willing to name names, but added: "They are in the transport and port industry and there are power generating people interested as well.

"So with industry and housing on the islands the road traffic would pay the cost."

Sir Terry said the largest island would be for industry, the other for housing and "we're not sure what the third island would be for but possibly a nature reserve".

He said his scheme would leave the rest of the estuary as the Thames National Park.

"So like other national parks, towns in the estuary would be incorporated into the national park," he said.

"Existing reserves on both banks would be bypassed with tunnels and bridges used to connect the islands."

He says his proposals have generated great interest from the public and various agencies and his next move will be around October.

He said: "We will be moving forward on two fronts: One, talking to Government agencies and pushing the scheme through the planning process.

"Secondly, examining more private sector proposals and involvement."

Explaining how he developed his concept, he added: "Three years ago we started thinking independently about what a future Thames Gateway would look like in the absence of any clear vision for this place.

"It became obvious early on housing targets could be met largely within East London, near existing infrastructure, with only a small requirement to grow in the towns of north Kent and south Essex.

"We developed a vision for the area of a new kind of national park which draws on the spirit of place - the river, its rich maritime traditions, the area's landscape and its ecology."

Halifax Bank of Scotland is already researching the cost of the scheme.

Sir Terry added: "The vision will create a place where people can live, work and enjoy life to the full. It must truly become a place as desirable as any other.

"We believe it could become famous with Essex and Kent as the world's first truly sustainable eco-region."

Now the consortium is seeking more committed Government and independent backing to take forward this "singular vision".

Sir Terry says his concept is "widely supported" and needs funding and collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Reaction to the scheme has included "not only the best idea for the Thames Gateway, but the only idea".

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has suggested London could have its own Lake District.

Click here to view Sir Terry's plan for the Thames