SOUTH Essex's economy could be "transformed" over the coming years by Thames Freeport, according to bosses who say they are beginning discussions to bring in companies of "national importance".

Construction is already underway for more vast warehouses on the sprawling DP World site at London Gateway port to cater for businesses attracted by the perks that go with being situated within a freeport.

Alan Shaoul, UK chief finance officer of DP World, said: "There's three or four very large projects that have been talked about, for which the freeport has been shortlisted as a potential site. If they happened it would be of national significance.

"Most of them are confidential but to give an example, Rolls Royce has proposals for a site interested in hosting their modular nuclear reactors, small nuclear reactors.

"They want high-end manufacturing facilities. This is very early stage but it's things like that."

Rolls Royce has already made a commitment to to build up to 16 mini-nuclear plants in the UK.

Ruth Kelly, chairman of Thames Freeport, added: "I think it's fair to say there has been a sharp increase from investors. It's been noticeable right across the estate and at Ford Dagenham as well.

"This is the first time we've had interest from those sorts of manufacturing companies. It would transform this part of the local economy."

Since delivery firm UPS set up at the freeport in 2017, other companies including Lidl, Dixons, Carphone Warehouse and SH Pratt Bananas have followed.

Mr Shaoul said: "The timing has been quite fortuitous for securing freeport status in the Thames. It's coincided with a quite a difficult few years in terms of supply chains and the need to secure additional warehousing, logistics space and all those capabilities.

"By having land that's ready to be developed because it has planning consent, and the infrastructure being there, we are able to build warehouses for future occupiers very quickly.

"On the back of that and combined with the benefits, both financial and support around skills, attracts a lot of interest into the logistics park or what we call port-centric logistics, people who use the port and want a warehouse near here to serve the local market."