Local MP Stephen Metcalfe visited Thames Enterprise Park (TEP) last week (21 May 2021) to see how the former oil refinery site is readying itself for regeneration.

Hosted by Director of Thames Enterprise Park, Jonathan Whittingham, and iSec Head of Strategic Land, Rupert Wood, Stephen took a tour of the 412-acre former Coryton Oil Refinery site, which is to be redeveloped to bring the site back into use as a major sustainable economic centre and, once again, to contribute to the local and regional economy.  Councillor Robert Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Borough Council, also joined and completed the visiting group.

An outline planning application to transform the site has been submitted to Thurrock Borough Council.  The application is progressing through the planning process and it is anticipated that the plans will be presented to the Council’s planning committee early this summer.

The development, which is part of the Thames Freeport, would create up to 5,500 new jobs worth an estimated £340 million per year to the local economy.

Stephen Metcalfe MP (South Basildon and East Thurrock) said:

“The opportunity here is massive.  It’s a critical time to get investment and regeneration going as we come out of the pandemic and Thames Enterprise Park has a significant role to play, locally and regionally in the recovery.  The vision to target specialised industries alongside logistics will broaden the job opportunities locally as well as complementing and building on the success of London Gateway.  I look forward to seeing Thames Enterprise Park bringing jobs and commercial activity back to Coryton.”

Jonathan Whittingham, Director of Thames Enterprise Park, said:

“It’s been a busy year so far.  The successful Thames Freeport bid and submitting the revised planning documents to support the planning application, which is progressing through the planning process at Thurrock Borough Council, has resulted in significant interest from occupiers looking to locate at Thames Enterprise Park.

“We’re on the cusp of something special at Thames Enterprise Park and it’s been great to show Stephen the site and explain our vision and plans for the development.  With a green light on planning permission, we hope to be on-site for construction later this year.  We want to bring the site back to economic life in a way that benefits the community and that Thurrock can be proud of.”

The vision is to provide a place which will attract the next generation of sustainable specialised industries within manufacturing, energy and logistics and to participate in and contribute to the UK’s overall transition towards net zero emissions and climate change targets.

This vision was boosted in March when ‘Thames Freeport’, which Thames Enterprise Park is part of, was selected by Government in the Chancellor’s Budget as one of 8 freeport bids to proceed.

Recognising its potential, Thames Enterprise Park has already established occupier interest.  A major cold store operator in the food sector has been signed up and advanced discussions are taking place with a biofuels company.

£8.5m has already been spent to remediate over 100 acres of land so it is ready for the next phase of infrastructure delivery.  Subject to planning permission, this first phase, located on an area called the ‘West Site’, could be on-site and moving into construction by the end of the year.

You can find out more about Thames Enterprise Park on its website or social media channels (Twitter / LinkedIn).  For planning information, please visit the Thurrock Council website.

Contact details

For information about Thames Enterprise Park, contact Richard Pia / Ben Copithorne on rpia@camargue.uk / bcopithorne@camargue.uk or 07850 796401 / 07968 748125 / 020 7636 7366

Notes to editors

Thames Enterprise Park

  • Thames Enterprise Park is a billion-pound inward investment proposal to transform the former Coryton Oil Refinery site on the banks of the River Thames in Thurrock into a vibrant manufacturing, energy and logistics super-hub.
  • From 1953 until 2012, Coryton Oil Refinery was one of the largest local employers with thousands of people working there. The ambition is to bring that employment back through the regeneration of the site.
  • The proposals are ‘regeneration in action’ – transforming 412 acres of brownfield land into a strategic employment and infrastructure asset.
  • Thames Enterprise Park, once fully built, will create up to 5,500 new jobs worth approximately £340m GVA per annum, as well as training and learning opportunities for young people.
  • A clean, sustainable employment hub which will attract new manufacturing and specialised industries to Thurrock.
  • Strategically located on the Thames Estuary with direct access to river, road and rail links.
  • Immediately adjacent to London Gateway port and London Gateway Logistics Park, it will be an innovative employment destination and complementary to the port.
  • Clustering of manufacturing, logistics and energy businesses will strengthen supply chains, cut carbon and achieve more sustainable energy use.
  • Thames Enterprise Park is part of the Thames Freeport alongside London Gateway, Port of Tilbury and Ford’s Dagenham engine plant, that will transform the regional economy and deliver benefits at scale through the Thames Freeport vision. The Freeport as a whole could create more than 25,000+ new jobs.