Thames Freeport grows one-year on It’s been a year since the launch of the Thames Freeport and the demand from businesses wanting to relocate to the area is sky high, according to those behind the initiative. The Freeport links Ford’s world-class Dagenham engine plant with the global ports at London Gateway and Tilbury. The sites have experienced unparalleled demand, with an array of businesses from a range of sectors seeking to take advantage of the substantial financial incentives offered by the Freeport, helping to transform the economic fortunes of the Thames Estuary in the coming years and provide more jobs for local people.