Just before Christmas the Port of Tilbury submitted an application for a development consent order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate to build a new terminal adjacent to the current port in Thurrock.

The proposed new port, known as Tilbury2, will be built on a 152-acre site which was part of the former Tilbury Power Station. Tilbury2 is central to the Port of Tilbury’s ?1bn 2012-20 investment programme.

Tilbury’s Growth

Tilbury has doubled the size of its business in the past 10 years thanks to its strategic location for distribution, with nearly 20 million people living within 75 miles.

It is projected to double the volume across the quay (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes) and triple the direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.

As a result, customers in the port are looking for more space to expand their businesses.

Expansion is needed to cope with rising demand for construction materials and aggregates from the UK’s building sector, imported and exported cars, as well as an increase in ferry traffic, which carries consumer goods, perishables (food and drink) and steel between Europe and the UK.

It is envisaged that Tilbury2 will be operational in Q2 2020 and will act as a satellite of the main port. It will comprise:

  • a roll on/roll off ferry terminal for importing and exporting containers and trailers;
  • a facility for importing, processing, manufacturing and distributing construction materials;
  • a storage area for a variety of goods, including exported and imported cars;
  • a new national strategic rail and road connection into the site.

Any material that comes in from Europe on a ro ro service can be handled at Tilbury2.

“As London and the south-east grow, Tilbury grows,” said Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports Group (owner of the Port of Tilbury).

“Tilbury2 will deliver much-needed port capacity to support businesses importing and exporting to and from Europe and across the globe at a crucial time for the UK.

“Tilbury2 is a significant part of the port’s ?1bn investment strategy as we look to provide the next generation of logistics facilities to equip Britain to take advantage of new business opportunities and cement existing trading relationships.”

Planning Process

The Tilbury2 DCO will be examined this year by the Planning Inspectorate (acting on behalf of the secretary of state for transport), with a determination by the secretary of state for transport anticipated in 2019.

The Tilbury2 rail terminal is being designed to accommodate the longest contemporary freight trains, 775m in length.

The scheme includes a new pontoon and deep water jetty in the River Thames.

Tilbury covers around 1,100 acres (850 acres and the London Distribution Park, in addition to the Tilbury2 application site) and has a significant business in forest products, particularly panel products, as well as other construction materials, paper, grain, recyclables and warehousing space.

The port’s London Container Terminal, which handles a mix of short and deep sea services, is the UK’s number four port for containers.