Plans for new terminal at one of UK’s biggest ports to boost post-Brexit trade links

The Port of Tilbury, London's major port, has submitted an application for a new terminal to be built on a 152-acre site as part of a £1bn investment programme.

The Tilbury2 project, which would be built adjacent to the current port in Thurrock, is set to be operational in the second quarter of 2020 with additional investment also ring-fenced for the UK's largest warehouse at the port’s second extension site - the London Distribution Park - where Amazon UK began operating in autumn. Expansion is said to be 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.

Dr Liam Fox MP, international trade secretary, said: “Ports play a key role in the long term growth of the UK economy, with Tilbury being a great example of an ambitious, successful operation which is growing to deliver the capacity businesses need to export products from the UK across the world.  As an international economic department, we will continue to champion the growth of our maritime sector, and we would certainly encourage local businesses to make the most of the fantastic connections Tilbury has to offer.” 

Tilbury has doubled the size of its business in the past ten years and said it expects to double the volume across the quay (from 16m to 32m tonnes) and triple the number of jobs (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.

Tilbury2 project plans include: 

• 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 
• New national strategic rail and road connection into the site

Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports Group, owner of the Port of Tilbury, said: “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 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.”