RESTORATION works have officially begun at the Grade II Tilbury Riverside Station, marking a major milestone in the Back on Track project, made possible with a grant of over £4 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The project has also been financially supported by Forth Ports, the Tilbury Town Fund, Arts Council England and the FSJ Trust.

The project will transform the historic station building on the Thames into a vibrant community hub, featuring heritage interpretation, artist studios and a long-term programme of events and activities for local people. The works are anticipated to be completed and ready for opening in Summer 2027.

The start of the restoration works represents a significant step in reconnecting Tilbury with its riverfront and securing a sustainable future for one of the town's most recognisable heritage assets.

The announcement comes as Tilbury on the Thames Trust (TTT) celebrates its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, TTT has secured more than £10 million in external funding, investing directly in projects that celebrate Tilbury's heritage, support local people and create new opportunities across the town.

This progress reflects strong partnership working, including the long-standing support of the Port of Tilbury part of the Forth Ports Group and the Tilbury Town Fund, which has provided vital match funding for the Back on Track project. Together, these partners are helping to deliver a riverfront destination and a much-needed community facility.

As TTT enters its second decade, the Trust remains committed to building on this momentum strengthening partnerships, supporting creativity and ensuring that Tilbury's heritage plays an active role in shaping its future.

Paul Dale, Chair of Tilbury on the Thames Trust and Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports, said: "This is a proud moment for Tilbury. The start of works at Riverside Station represents years of partnership working and community ambition.

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Inside the rail station building where work has begun.

"As the Trust celebrates its 10th anniversary, it's fantastic to see this transformational project moving forward, one that honours our local heritage while creating new opportunities for creativity, connection and community life. We are grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and to National Lottery players whose support helps ensure historic buildings like this can be brought back to life for future generations."

Steve Drury, Development Director from Rooff Construction Limited, the contractors on site, said: "We are delighted to be working on such an important project for Tilbury. Restoring and repurposing historic buildings is always rewarding, and we look forward to delivering a high-quality space that we and the community can be proud of for generations to come."

Kevin Sadler Chair of Tilbury Town Fund "I've been fortunate to attend events at Tilbury Riverside Station in the past, so it's fantastic to see work now starting to bring this historic building back to life.

"With the support of the community and the Town Fund Board, we have a real opportunity to transform this building that is so important to local people into a vibrant resource that the whole community can enjoy for years to come."