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Public Inquiry Date Set for River Thames Port Development
01 Sep 2002
To be staged in two parts, the inquiry will first look into the 'dry' industrial park, business centre and transport aspects of the proposals before switching to the waterside dimension, which will require a Harbour Empowerment Order. Permission is also required under the Transport and Works Act to run double-tracked rail line to the site.
The proposed London Gateway, if fully approved, would provide some 10million sq/ft of commercial space, 2,300m of quayside for container operations with a capacity for 3.5 million teu per year, and two ro-ro berths linked to a new rail terminal.
The public inquiry is likely to take at least six months and could possibly decide to let the landside development go forward without the port dimension. Such an outcome would be distressing for the Port of London Authority, which wants the port built and is concerned that unilateral development of land facilities could preclude the port dimension going forward in future.
P&O is hoping to begin work by late next year on a project that could take up to 15 years to complete, as development will be phased according to demand.
MJ Information No: 17409
