A NEW building is being constructed at the London Gateway Logistics Park near Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope which is described as a 'dynamic new focal point for local businesses, employee training and community engagement'.

DP World, which operates the logistics park, and Thames Freeport have broken ground on a £13m amenities and innovation hub – The Hive – at the site

The 29,000 sq ft project will offer flexible meeting rooms and a dedicated training and innovation skills centre, alongside a state-of-the-art gym, two sports pitches and food and drink facilities.

OP World says the investment into the local community will provide more than 100 days of industrial and employability skills programmes per year, supporting around 1,125 trainees annually across the Freeport and marks the latest collaboration between DP World and Thames Freeport.

The Freeport is a government-backed economic zone centred on the ports of Tilbury and London Gateway plus Ford's Dagenham site, offering tax breaks, customs benefits, and streamlined planning to attract investment in advanced manufacturing, logistics, and green technology.

It aims to create shared infrastructure for skills and innovation across its three council areas – Barking & Dagenham, Havering, and Thurrock.

Construction work on The Hive began in October and will be completed by March 2026.

London Gateway Logistics Park

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Gateway Logistics Park CEO Alan Holland said: "When complete, The Hive will be a game-changer for businesses located across Thames Freeport, bringing together employers, regulators, investors, and the wider community to create a vibrant skills and innovation hub around London Gateway.

"Not only will it address the need for a flexible and connected shared space at the heart of the Logistics Park, but it will also support new jobs and the continued economic growth of the region, further enhancing our nationally significant logistics hub."

Stuart Rimmer, interim CEO of Thames Freeport, said: "The Hive is a flagship early investment in our wider programme to attract new global investment, create high-quality jobs, and develop the skills needed for the industries of the future.

"By combining world-class facilities with targeted training and innovation programmes, we're building the foundations of a thriving, sustainable economy across Thames Freeport and we're delighted to partner with DP World to build the new facility."

The Hive will sit at the heart of London Gateway's 9.25m sq ft Logistics Park, half of which has now been developed and is supported by a 10-year Local Development Order from Thurrock Council.

The ongoing growth of the Logistics Park coincides with the £1bn expansion of the adjoining port and rail terminals, with two new all electric berths and a second rail terminal currently under construction. When complete London Gateway will be the largest throughput container port in the UK.