PLANS to give potential investors certainty and speedy decision-making in the development of the massive super-port at London Gateway came closer on Wednesday (19 June) evening.
Thurrock Council unanimously supported a proposal that a consultation is held into creating a Local Development Order for the huge logistic park supporting the port itself – the largest LDO in the country for the largest logistics park in the country.
Council Leader, Cllr John Kent, told the meeting: “This report harks back to 2007, but there are some of us in this chamber who – like me – will recall the P&O proposals for Shell Haven going back well over a decade.
“It’s been a while coming, there have been problems to overcome and details to sort out, but we as a council have been working closely with developers throughout that decade and more.
“We have been working hard to minimise the disruption and inconvenience for local people while maximising the benefits for Thurrock – and the nation as a whole.
“We’re nearly there now and this is the next step.”
Cllr Kent said that in recent years the construction of the port had started along with a new access road “and last week we saw the fanfare and Prime Ministerial interest around the announcement of Marks & Spencer saying they plan to build on the logistics park”.
He explained the reason for the Order was “that over the years since 2007 some matters relating to the park infrastructure have been approved and there have been various applications to vary some of the almost 100 conditions of the outline consent”.
“This means the whole scheme threatens to become complex and unwieldy,” said Cllr Kent, saying the Order is “a way to simplify complex planning permission processes, providing certainty for prospective developers and promoting growth”.
The proposal would not mean the council totally giving up its planning powers, developments would have to abide by a strict set of rules while giving prospective developers certainty and speed of decision-making.
He said: “The council will be able to veto anything which flies in the face of what is eventually agreed through this consultation. We’ll have to act quickly, but 28 days should be long enough is something is so far away from the vision.”
Members were urged to take part in the consultation when it is launched on Thursday, 27 June and to last at least six weeks.
