The Secretary of State for Transport has approved plans for a new port on the River Thames.

MP Chris Grayling confirmed that Forth Ports Group received planning consent to build Tilbury2, a new multimillion pound port terminal adjacent to the current 930 acre site in Thurrock, on the outskirts of Greater London.

With construction scheduled to commence in a matter of weeks, the privately funded port, Tilbury2, will be developed on a site covering in excess of 150 acres, which was part of the location of the former Tilbury Power Station. When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied ferry port and the country’s biggest construction processing hub, with AEO-trusted trader status.

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

Construction of the port, which will include a new rail and road connection, deep water jetty and pontoon, will bring the project cost to in excess of £200 million. The tender process for a contractor to complete this build has been completed and an announcement will be made shortly.