THURROCK Council has played a leading role in reshaping the way the new Thames Freeport will be governed, with more input from elected members of the authorities whose boundaries it crosses.

The freeport won approval in principal from the government in March 2021 after a bid was lodged a month earlier. The project was rubber-stamped in November last year with the appointment of a CEO.

Thames Freeport is an economic zone connecting Ford's Dagenham engine plant at Dagenham, the global ports at London Gateway and Tilbury, and the developing Thames Enterprise Park on the site of the former Mobil refinery at Coryton.

Businesses looking to expand are being urged to take advantage of the tax benefits of relocating to the Freeport and being part of a customs zone, which will enable the businesses to continue to have low friction trade processes with the EU and global markets.

The Freeport's backers say it will create 21,000 new additional jobs, put £2.6bn a year into the UK economy, attract £4.6bn in investment and see 1,700 acres of land developed.

The full business plan for the site is about to be submitted for government approval after months of debate and deliberation about its governance.

And this evening (Wednesday, 7 December) members of Thurrock council's cabinet were told there will be a strong input from democratically elected representatives, including the leader of the borough council sittiong as a member of the Thames Freeport Governance Board (TFGB).

Cllr Mark Coxshall will sit on the Board and he says his role is to bring local residents to the centre of discussions around the Freeport.

Cllr Coxshall said this evening: "Thames Freeport is one of the most exciting developments in the UK. It is a key feature of Britain's trading future and will deliver skilled jobs and unparalleled opportunity to Thurrock's residents.

"It is led by the private sector, has public funding, has been created thanks to the UK Government and will have a significant role to play in our local, regional and national economy.

"We will work alongside representatives from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the London Borough of Havering as permanent members of the board will be key to providing democratic oversight for the board's work."

A full version of the report and recommendations agreed by Thurrock Council's cabinet this evening can be found via this link.