A THURROCK councillor has expressed his 'fear' that there may be an overdevelopment of ports in Thurrock.

DP World London Gateway was granted planning permission to build a 9,591 sq metre building which will provide two semi-detached warehouses on its logistics park.

The park benefits from a local development order which gives automatic planning permission for structures but that is due to expire in November and a  new local development order will not be completed until next year so the council  has given to extend the order so the new warehouses to be built.

London Gateway Logistics Park Leasehold Limited has now lodged details of the new construction under the existing order.

The warehouse will border the Baltic Avenue estate road and be sited near to a DHL building will include ancillary office accommodation, plot parking, loading, unloading and turning areas, and site access roads.

The port is said to have businesses lined up to occupy the new buildings.

Speaking at the meeting when permission was granted, Cllr Paul Arnold, Conservative councillor for Ockendon, said: "I am really fearful for the development rate of the ports. I am very familiar with the road network around that area and it is already becoming overloaded.

"If there is ever an issue with the Manorway We are going to have a massive problem down there instantly.

"We mustn't take our eye off this ball because it is going to be coming pretty fast and pretty heavy. Every month it's going to get a little bit worse."