The former Coryton Oil Refinery site is being transformed into a new superhub, creating up to 4,500 jobs.
The latest multi-million pound investment is being used to fund essential land preparation work of 44 hectares of the 168-hectare site. The work is being undertaken by specialist remediation contractors DSM Demolition. It will be focused on the ‘West Site’, which previously formed part of the historic Shell Haven Oil Refinery and the associated Coryton Village, before its closure and demolition in the 1990s. This part of the site is expected to be ready for development in 2020.
In April 2017, a planning application for the work was approved by Thurrock Council. All work will be undertaken in close collaboration between Thames Enterprise Park, DSM Demolition, Thurrock Council and the Environment Agency (EA) and under a special permit issued by the EA.
End of 2019
The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019. The planning application for the redevelopment of the whole of the site is currently with Thurrock Council and will be determined later this year.
“This investment is an important step in the development of Thames Enterprise Park,” said Chris Brookhouse, chief executive of Thames Enterprise Park. “Outline planning approval is expected to be received in the middle of 2019 for the entire site, and we expect to be on-track to welcome our first operators on-site in late 2020.”
The hubs
The plans for Thames Enterprise Park comprise:
- A Food Hub, bringing processing, packaging, storage and distribution, including a range of innovative warehouses with high levels of automation.
- An Energy Hub, leading the way in the production of advanced forms of biofuel and renewable energy. The area is intended to provide modern space for innovative companies within the energy sector.
- A Sustainable Industries Hub, designed to be a focal point for small and medium-sized businesses to research and develop new technologies and techniques for the energy and food logistics industries.
- An Amenity Hub. Centrally located, this will be a high-tech environment connecting business, community, education and research and would include cafés, a gym, a crèche and a mobility concierge service.
