PLANS for Thames Enterprise Park, the billion-pound regeneration vision for the former Coryton oil refinery, have taken a significant step forward this week with the developers submitting a package of additional information to Thurrock Borough Council to support the planning application. The Council had requested supplementary details to assist with its determination of the application. A decision is now anticipated early in the summer.
The planning application proposes to create a new manufacturing, energy and logistics super-hub across 412 acres of the former oil refinery site that closed in 2012.
If approved, Thames Enterprise Park will create up to 5,500 new jobs and add around £340m (GVA) every year to the economy.
This week’s news follows the recent announcement that Thames Enterprise Park is partnering with neighbours DP World London Gateway, Port of Tilbury and Ford Dagenham on the Thames Freeport bid – an overall opportunity to create over 25,000 new jobs across more than 1,600 acres. A decision on the freeport bidding competition and whether Thames Freeport will secure freeport status will be made by the UK Government, separately from the local decision on the planning application for Thames Enterprise Park.
Jonathan Whittingham, Director of Thames Enterprise Park, said: “Thames Enterprise Park represents a billion-pound inward investment proposition which will be truly transformational for Thurrock and for the Thames Estuary. This is regeneration in action: we’re taking a brownfield site and repurposing it to create a strategic employment site with upwards of 5,500 new jobs for the region.
“As well as attracting new green industries, we will also create significant economic and social benefits for the wider area. Once planning consent is granted by Thurrock Council, we will move rapidly into the construction phase so that we can realise these benefits for Thurrock and the estuary region as soon as possible.”
Thames Enterprise Park is one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK. £8.5m has already been committed to early remediation and planning permission has been secured for further infrastructure works, so that plots can be ready for development as soon as consent is granted. When planning permission is granted, the first phase of the development will be up and running within 24 months.
As well as progressing with the planning application and Thames Freeport bid, Thames Enterprise Park has already established occupier interest. A major food sector occupier has been signed up and advanced discussions are taking place with a biofuels company and major low carbon occupier.
You can find out more about Thames Enterprise Park on its website or social media channels (Twitter / LinkedIn). For planning information, please visit the Thurrock Council website.
