THURROCK Council has approved plans to transform Tilbury pier and foreshore.

The scheme, funded from a £22.8 million government grant to deliver projects within the Tilbury Town Investment Plan, was previewed in January this year.

It will see the area transformed with new seating, pathways and signage.

Parking will be improved and there will be a newly landscaped park.

At a planning meeting on Thursday (8 May), councillors were told there have been eight objections to the plans.

Residents complained of the loss of memorial benches on the site and a "lack of consultation" on the plans

However, speaking at the meeting Steve Liddiard, Labour councillor for Tilbury St Chads, said: "All the plans were in Tilbury library for five or six months. We've been talking to the architects and we've been down on site. I was there today at the viewing point.

"It will greatly improve the experience of all the cruise liner passengers and for people go down to Tilbury to just look over the water or do a bit of fishing. It looks fairly good to me."

Paul Arnold, Conservative councillor or Ockendon, raised concerns that two EV charging points would mean a loss of two parking bays for petrol cars in the revamped car park. He added: "Around the borough there are many EV points being put in and I really don't ever see them being used."

Under the plans existing benches will be replaced with an elevated continuous concrete seat – a circular mini plazza offering sweeping views of the river.

A blank concrete wall will be brightened up with "interpretation boards" giving information about the ecology and landscape and the industrial heritage of Riverside station the history of the fort.

Enhanced walkways are proposed with a refurbished lower walkway and a new path along the upper level of the wall.

The project is linked to the proposed Back on Track project to refurbish Tilbury Riverside Station, which has a cafe, event space, creative lets etc which aims to create employment and other revenue opportunities and as well as a place for cruise/ferry passengers to socialise. It gained funding approval in October last year.

The projects are being delivered in partnership with the Tilbury on Thames Trust. Both projects are expected to be complete by autumn 2026.