Port of Tilbury set for expansion following major land acquisition
Forth Ports confirms that it has entered into an agreement to purchase 152 acres of land, including a further deep water jetty, close to the East of the Port of Tilbury in Essex. The acquisition price is not being disclosed, however it is expected that at least £100m will be invested in infrastructure and facilities on the land.
The land purchased is part of the former Tilbury Power Station owned by RWE which closed in 2013 and is currently being decommissioned. The port has taken ownership of part of the 152 acre site, with the remainder to be handed over following the completion of the demolition process.
This land acquisition brings the total port acreage to 1,100 acres and Forth Ports intends to use this land to extend their current operations with the creation of a new port, to grow to meet the needs of their customers and market demands. It is the intention of Forth Ports for the new port facility to be connected to the national rail and road networks. The port will lodge the relevant planning applications in due course.
Charles Hammond, Chief Executive of Forth Ports, said: “This is a significant land acquisition for the Port of Tilbury. As London’s major port, it is a key resource for companies who need to access London and the South East of England. We are acquiring this additional land to extend the port in response to increasing demand from customers who are seeking additional capacity within the port.
“We have an ambitious growth plan for the Port of Tilbury and this land deal will complement our other development projects at the port including the growth of London Distribution Park and the opening this year of the UK’s largest port-based chill store, operated by our partners NFT.”
Steve Boughton, Head of Business Development UK for RWE, said: “RWE has a proud connection with the Tilbury Power Station site, having generated electricity there for millions of homes for over 46 years. Following its closure in 2013, we are delighted to have sold part of the site to the Port of Tilbury which we believe offers a fantastic opportunity for businesses and employment in the local area and beyond. We will continue to work closely with the port over the coming months while demolition of some buildings take place. We wish the port every success for its future plans.”
The Port of London Authority Chief Executive, Robin Mortimer, said: “This is a really important development. The former power station site offers a fantastic deep water berth and the land is ideal for the port centric logistics in which Tilbury specialises. It’s all part of a picture of growing trade on the Thames, which we are actively supporting through the Thames Vision project.”