EAST Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe and Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill took a close look at Thurrock's next big industrial and business opportunity today (Friday, 21 May).

Mr Metcalfe and Cllr Gledhill visited Thames Enterprise Park (TEP) 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, the two politicians took a tour of the 412-acre former Coryton Oil Refinery site, which is to be redeveloped as a major sustainable economic centre.

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 plans will be presented to the council's planning committee early this summer.

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

Mr Metcalfe 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."

Mr Whittingham 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 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 and Rob 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 park aims to 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 as one of eight freeport bids to proceed.

That has already led to a major cold store operator in the food sector signing up and 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.