The final seal of approval has been granted by the Government for the development of the UK's most advanced container port at London Gateway, which incorporates Europe's largest logistics park.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued a 'Harbour Empowerment Order' to London Gateway, which enables official and statutory powers to the new port.

Construction work will begin later this year on the 1,850 acre site, just 25 miles from central London, near Stanford-le-Hope, South Essex.

More than £1.5 billion is being privately invested by London Gateway's owners, DP World, the fourth largest global marine terminal owner and operator. The project is currently the largest capital investment initiative in the UK and will become the largest employment creation project in the country.

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London Gateway Chief Executive Simon Moore said: "This is an historic day for the shipping industry and the economy as a whole. We will be the UK's first major port for more than 25 years.

"London Gateway will be a port-centric logistics platform of a size and scale unique in the UK. Our customers will be able to cut costs from their supply chains, increase efficiency and reduce their environmental footprints."

In addition to a major deep sea facility, London Gateway port will combine with Europe's largest logistics park, offering 9.5 million square feet for distribution, manufacturing and high-tech sectors. The logistics park will offer individual units in excess of 1million square feet. By integrating the port and the logistics park, London Gateway will offer global brands the opportunity to move away from conventional distribution methods and benefit from more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of distributing goods.

(CD/JM)