The South-east's three regional development agencies are joining forces to appoint a chief executive to beef up their activities in the Thames Gateway.

The RDAs for south-east England, London and the east of England are seeking a head for the Thames Gateway Initiative.

The successful candidate will be responsible for co-ordinating the organisations' policies in the gateway, which cuts across the three regions. The agencies' move has been prompted by calls from Lord Rogers, among others, to streamline the proliferation of initiatives in the area.

Nigel Smith, the RICS' regeneration panel chair, said the three RDAs had so far kept a low profile in efforts to regenerate the gateway.

The ODPM has also officially advertised for its own chief executive to oversee central government activities in the gateway.

Last November, communities minister David Miliband called for a strategic framework for the Thames Gateway, to be ready by this summer. This would draw on regional spatial strategies and link them to give an overarching vision.