Billions pumped into Essex's transport gateways

More than £2bn is to be pumped into expanding two separate transport gateways in Essex.

DP World, the owner of P&O Ferries, announced its much-anticipated £1bn plan to make London Gateway "Britain's largest container port" on Monday.

Shortly afterwards, The Department for Transport (DfT) said £1.1bn would be spent on an expansion project at London Stansted Airport.

"I’m determined to do everything in my power to galvanise growth," Sir Keir Starmer told the UK's investment summit.

The plan for London Gateway, in Stanford-le-Hope, would create 400 new jobs and build two new shipping berths, DP World said.

It would mean the world's largest container ships could dock at the port once the project, expected to take up to five years if planning permission was secured, was completed.

Roy Jones, chairman of the Corringham, Fobbing and Homesteads Community Forum, said it was good news for an area that sometimes "feels forgotten".

"They’re expanding, the growth is there - you can see they’ve done a fantastic job," he told BBC Essex.

"It’s good for the community, it puts us on the map."

The announcement followed DP World threatening to scrap the investment after Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said it was a "rogue operator".

The Reform MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, James McMurdock, said there had been an initial "failing of forward-thinking" by the government.

"I'm very glad the £1bn project is going ahead, but it should never have been put in jeopardy in the first place," he added.

It was also announced at the International Investment Summit earlier that London Stansted Airport would benefit from a £1.1bn expansion programme.

The plans were approved in October 2023 but had been subject to confirmation of funding.

Blueprints released by the DfT showed up to 5,000 new on-site jobs would be created as a result of the scheme.

About £600m of the money will be spent on extending the existing terminal, which will increase its size by a third, while the airport works to offer more airlines.

Airport chief executive Ken O'Toole said the expansion would connect people in London and the East of England to "even more global destinations".

He said it would enable "millions more visitors to the UK".

Haigh added: "This announcement is a clear signal that Britain is open for business.

"Transport is central to this government's core mission of growing the economy."

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