The Port of Tilbury, London’s major port, welcomed the Minister of State for Transport, Rt Hon John Hayes CBE MP, to the port this week (28th June) to hear about the £1billion investment programme which includes two major extensions to the port estate – London Distribution Park and Tilbury2 – to accommodate substantial business growth.
The port has doubled in volume size in the past ten years and is projected to double the business across the quay and triple the direct employment over the next 10-15 years.
The Minister was briefed on the port’s £1bn investment programme, 2012-19, which includes the creation of a new 152-acre deep-water port terminal, Tilbury2 – currently in the statutory consultation process – adjacent to the current port. He was also updated on the progress of the construction of the UK’s largest warehouse at London Distribution Park for Amazon UK, which is due to open in the autumn of this year.
These two major projects, coupled with opening of Europe’s largest chill store at the port in partnership with NFT and the completion this year of Tilbury Green Power, the 40MW energy-from-waste power facility, will contribute to the rapid growth of the port to satisfy robust demand from the South East and Greater London. The Minister also heard about Tilbury’s wide ranging portfolio of customer and tenant activity, and strengthening position as the number one UK port for forestry products, construction materials, paper, grain, recyclables and warehousing space.
Commenting on the visit Charles Hammond, Group Chief Executive, Forth Ports (owners of the Port of Tilbury), said: “We were pleased to welcome the Minister to Tilbury today and it was a pleasure to brief him on the substantial growth of London’s major port. Tilbury sits at the heart of the largest consumer market in Europe. Our continued success is reflected in our ambitious growth plans through our Tilbury2 proposals and the London Distribution Park – both of which will generate further local jobs and significant national economic benefit.”
Transport Minister John Hayes said: “I was delighted to visit the Port of Tilbury and see for myself the enormous benefits of the port’s major investment programme. Ports like Tilbury are vital for the long term growth of our economy as the Government continues to build a global trading nation post-Brexit. This will continue to be a key priority in 2017, and I look forward to September’s London International Shipping Week, where we’ll proudly display the UK’s proud history as a powerhouse of marine industries.”
The 70-acre London Distribution Park will be fully operational by quarter 3 2017, while 152-acre Tilbury2 terminal is projected to be fully operational by quarter 1 2020.
