THURROCK Mayor Cllr Sue Little recently visited Thames Enterprise Park to recognise the start of another phase of deconstruction work as regeneration progresses on the site of the former Coryton Oil Refinery.

When complete, Thames Enterprise Park is projected to create 5,500 jobs and to generate £350m per year for the local economy.

The site has a long industrial heritage dating back to the 19th century and previously there had been more than 200 oil tanks during the refinery's peak in the 1970s and 80s.

Thames Enterprise Park's backers say itwill bring those job opportunities and economic benefits back and is identified as one of Thurrock's key growth hubs.

A statement says: "The development will reinvent the former oil refinery into a 'next generation' energy-led development for advanced manufacturing and logistics, energy-led technology sectors and fuels of the future.

"Work has now started on taking down 34 decommissioned former oil storage tanks. Across the site, above-ground structures have been decommissioned, cleaned, and then demolished or removed in phases. Work by specialist contractor DSM will continue until Autumn 2024.2

The Mayor was hosted by Development Director Graham Stark to mark the start of this work, to see the deconstruction process first-hand, and to meet the teams working on-site.

Cllr Little, said: "It was a pleasure to visit Thames Enterprise Park to see the progress being made as this new phase of decommissioning begins. I was glad to meet the skilled, specialist teams working hard to move this project forwards."

Mr Stark added: "This new phase of work is a key phase in the process to unlock the size and scale of the opportunity at Thames Enterprise Park. We were pleased to welcome the Mayor to see first-hand the progress being made. 

"When complete, Thames Enterprise Park will result in more than £350 million per year delivered back into the local economy. That's £3.5 billion of economic impact over the first 10 years of operation here in Thurrock."