London Gateway secures Government approval

Notes and media contacts

For further information contact:
Ben Copithorne / Chris White, Camargue on 020 76367366

1. DP World took on the development of the London Gateway projects with its acquisition of P&O in March 2006.

2. London Gateway Port will be built on part of the site of the former Shell Haven oil refinery in Thurrock, Essex. Land will also be reclaimed from the Thames estuary to help form the port. DP World and Shell are collaborating to develop a major Logistics and Business Park on a separate part of the site. Together, the two schemes are expected to create up to 14,000 new jobs and help drive forward the Thames Gateway regeneration initiative in Thurrock. The proposals anticipate that the first container berths will be operational by 2010 and the first business units occupied within 12-18 months.

3. Key facts about the development
• Shell Haven is a 607 hectare (1,500 acre) brownfield site with a two mile River Thames frontage.
• It is located in Thurrock at the heart of the Government's Thames Gateway regeneration area.
• The site has been used as a port since the 16th century.
• Since the oil refinery ceased production in 1999, Shell has embarked on a £50 million clearance of the site - one of the largest brownfield site preparation programmes in Europe.
• With a 2 mile (3km) river frontage, excellent road and rail links, and a location close to London and the UK's south east market, London Gateway is ideally located for port use. It is estimated that the final destination of a quarter of the containers currently imported into the UK is within a 25 mile (40km) radius of Shell Haven.
• It already has a direct dual carriageway link to London and the M25 motorway network and a rail connection to the UK rail network.
• As well as returning a former oil refinery site to productive commercial use, DP World is committed to ensuring that it develops London Gateway in sympathy with the local environment and to be as sustainable as possible. Just 25 miles from London, the fact of delivering goods closer to their end markets in the capital and South East will help reduce road miles for onward transportation. London Gateway will also provide capacity for 30 per cent of its goods to travel by rail.

4. London Gateway Port
• The proposed London Gateway Port will be a world class port capable of handling the largest deep-sea container ships.
• DP World's proposals include a 2,300 metre long container quay with a fully-developed capacity of 3.5 million TEU (standard container units) a year.
• The port is located on the major shipping lanes serving north west Europe
• London Gateway Port is being developed on a brownfield site in accordance with Government objectives. It will contribute to the further rejuvenation of the Thames as a working river.

5. Logistics and Business Park
• London Gateway Park is a Joint Venture between Shell and DP World and will cover a development area of 300 hectares (700 acres). It will provide a sustainable, integrated solution for the changing requirements of the distribution, manufacturing and high-tech sectors.
• The Park can accommodate buildings in excess of 100,000 sq m and offers linkage to the rail network. High quality architecture and high levels of security will be key features of the park. Extensive landscaping on the site, including a protected 'habitat' zone around the Park will create an attractive environment for occupiers.