The proposed London Gateway port at the former Shell refinery at Shellhaven, Thurrock, in the Thames estuary has been given a nod of approval by transport minister, Gillian Merron, and is expected to create up to 1,900 new jobs in the region.
An agreement was reached between the local planning and highway authorities and port operator P&O (part of the world’s biggest port operator Dubai Ports World), to ensure the local road network will be adequate for the port.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has also granted planning permission for the adjacent London Gateway commercial centre and business park on the Shellhaven site.
Merron said: “London Gateway will be able to provide much needed capacity for handling the UK’s growing international trade in containers.
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“This substantial development has the potential to provide many new jobs in the Thames Gateway area – which is already one of the government’s priority growth areas in England – including a possible 1,900 jobs which P&O forecasts for the port alone,” she added.
Upon completion, London Gateway will have capacity for seven container vessels and a roll-on roll-off ferry facility along 2.7km of quayside.
