Government gives final approval for £1.5bn London Gateway Port

The government has given the final go-ahead for the proposed £1.5bn London Gateway Port at Shellhaven, Thurrock.

The decision follows an long struggle by P&O (now part of Dubai Ports World) to develop the site.

P&O and the local planning and highways authorities agreed ensure that the impact of the development was adequately catered for by the local highway network.

In addition, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) also agreed to grant plannning permission for a logistics and commercial centre and business park on the Shellhaven site.

The decisions follow a lengthy public inquiry into the development, as well as amendments to the original plans and measures to cope with extra traffic.

Transport Minister Gillian Merron said: "London Gateway will be able to provide much needed capacity for handling the UK's growing international trade in containers.

"It has taken time to finalise this decision. But it was right to consider carefully, and make appropriate provision for, the significant impacts that this major development will have in the growth area.

"This outcome reflects the hard work by the promoters, the local authorities, transport bodies, environmental organisations and others to reach agreement on ways to mitigate the impacts of the development."

When completed, the London Gateway port will offer up to seven container vessel berths and a ro-ro facility along 2.7km of quayside on the site of the former Shell oil refinery at Shellhaven.

The commercial and logistics centre will occupy the rest of the landside, brownfield site of the decommissioned oil refinery.