The Thames Gateway, which covers a 40-mile stretch of the Thames from east London to Kent and Essex, is the biggest regeneration project in Europe.

The Thames Gateway Delivery Plan details how the Government will pay for housing, transport and infrastructure. It also sets out how the Gateway will become the UK's first "eco-region".

The Thames Gateway will be designed to keep harmful greenhouse gas emissions to a minimum. Existing homes will be fitted with environmental improvements, while new homes will be "carbon-zero" by 2016. Four out of five of the new homes will be built on brownfield land, which would be protected from flooding.

The project is expected to bring 160,000 new homes and 225,000 jobs to the region by 2016.

Also announced was:
• An expansion of training with 13,500 apprenticeships and 10,000 new college places for local people.
• A "major step-change" in the Thames Gateway public transport network.
• A guarantee that developers would design high-quality homes.

Yvette Cooper said:
"Since last year the Government has secured funding for major projects that are transforming the Gateway - the new deal on Crossrail, a new high speed line to London, Paris and Brussels, and London Gateway, the biggest deepwater port in Europe.

"We have already achieved a great deal but we must raise our ambitions and go further and faster.

"We've now set out plans and money to do so - with a new eco-region offering a great quality of life for its inhabitants; with new educational opportunities and transport links as well as affordable homes; and with better training to equip the local workforce to benefit from the 225,000 new jobs in their area."