DP WORLD LONDON GATEWAY EXAMINATION OF THE NEW CASTLE POINT LOCAL PLAN (CPLP) RESPONSE TO INSPECTORS MATTERS, ISSUES AND QUESTIONS STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF DP WORLD LONDON GATEWAY MATTER 1: PROCEDURAL/LEGAL REQUIREMENTS EB/4127-4941-2908/6 1 DPWLG&TEPL CPBC Local Plan Examination Matter 1 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3 2. About London Gateway ........................................................................................................................... 3 3. About Thames Enterprise Park ................................................................................................................ 4 4. South Essex Authorities Joint Strategic Plan ........................................................................................... 4 5. Local Plan Examination Correspondence ................................................................................................ 4 6. Wider Road Network and other Relevant Proposals .............................................................................. 4 7. MIQs ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 8. Overall conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 7 List of Appendices 1. Stanford-le-Hope Area Plan..................................................................................................................... 8 2. Thurrock Area Plan ................................................................................................................................ 10 3. SELEP Press Release ............................................................................................................................... 12 2 DPWLG&TEPL CPBC Local Plan Examination Matter 1 1. Introduction 1.1 The London Gateway Port (the Port) and London Gateway Logistics Park (the Park), are related developments jointly promoted by London Gateway Port Limited, LG Park Freehold Limited and LG Park Leasehold Limited (hereafter collectively referred to as DPWLG). DPWLG responded to the pre- submission (Regulation 19) consultation (ID0613) focusing on Policies TP1 and TP2, and the related Table 14.1, of the CPLP and suggesting that the references to a “New Access to Canvey Island” be removed because the policies do not meet the tests of legal compliance and are not sound. Thames Enterprise Park (TEP) lies adjacent1. Those representations are summarised under reference IDs 823447 on pages 15 to 19 of EXM-023. 2. About London Gateway 2.1 The Port and Park (hereinafter jointly referred to as London Gateway (LG)) occupy a site located to the north banks of the Thames Estuary in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex (in the borough of Thurrock) and provide a tri-model transport interchange of national significance. 2.2 The Chancellors Budget Statement of 3rd March 2021, confirmed that the Thames Freeport (which includes the LG and TEP sites) was awarded Freeport status, recognising the role these sites play as part of the UK’s global gateway for trade and investment. A press release regarding the Freeports announcement is provided at Appendix 3. 2.3 With first operational use taking place in November 2013, the Port currently comprises 3 operational berths, whilst the Park currently provides 161,892sq.m of operational floorspace in eight site buildings, with two further buildings consented and currently under construction. As the Port develops over the lifetime of the CPLP, the Port will comprise six shipping berths providing additional deep sea shipping and container handling facilities with an annual throughput of 3.5 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent units), and approximately 1,900 directly employed staff. The adjacent Park will provide up to approximately 830,000sq.m of commercial floorspace, including storage and distribution, research and development, and general and light industrial facilities. In total, the Park is anticipated to generate approximately 13,400 direct employment opportunities, and a further 24,000 indirect employment opportunities are anticipated to arise as a result of the combined LG development. 2.4 The National Policy Statement (NPS) for Ports (January 2012) recognises “the essential contribution to the national economy that international and domestic trade makes” (Para. 3.3.6), and that 95% of all goods in and out of the UK move by sea via coastal ports. The NPS for Ports also forecasts an increase in container traffic by 2030 over a 2005 base of 182% from 7 million to 20 million TEU. Thus, once fully developed, the committed Port will facilitate approximately 18% of all UK container trade and approximately 27% of the predicted growth in such trade by 2030. Additionally, the Logistics Park will provide ‘port centric’ benefits which, along with rail and transshipment opportunities, will result in significant transport efficiencies, removing 65 million HGV miles off of UK roads every year (equivalent to approximately 2,000 HGV movements per day). 1 It is acknowledged that the promoters of TEP (Thames Enterprise Park Limited) did not respond to the pre-submission (Regulation 19) consultation but they support and have contributed to these representations made by DPWLG. 3 DPWLG&TEPL CPBC Local Plan Examination Matter 1 3. About Thames Enterprise Park 3.1 Lying beyond the Shell Oil storage depot which is adjacent to LG, is Thames Enterprise Park (TEP), a 167 ha brownfield site. Accessed via The Manorway (A1014), the TEP site has historically been used as an oil refinery, but closed in 2012 and has since remained vacant. The current planning application (ref. 18/01404/OUT) seeks to redevelop the site to create circa 345,500sqm of predominately employment-led uses (B2/B8 uses), alongside energy related uses, sustainable industries and an amenity hub. Phase one of the site has already been remediated, and work on delivering key infrastructure is expected to begin later this year. 4. South Essex Authorities Joint Strategic Plan 4.1 Although the CPBC New Local Plan covers the period to 2033; Castle Point has already joined forces with other South Essex Authorities, including Thurrock, signing memorandums of understanding committing to producing a Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) looking to 2050 as CPBC Local Development Scheme (LDS) makes clear. Indeed as a member of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) CPBC have apparently recognised the need to work together on strategic issues including transport. ASELA has commissioned Arup to produce a Strategic Infrastructure Position Statements (SIPS) and Strategic Infrastructure Delivery Plan (SIDP). A baseline study report has already been produced, by Arup, which identifies known capacity issues of the Strategic Road Network as well as the significant expansion plans of what is now known as the Thames Freeport. The planned but as yet unconsented new Lower Thames Crossing is also referenced. The next stage is to identify transport interventions and mitigations to make good the existing transport network and support growth. The unilateral identification of a new access road to Canvey Island by CPBC in their New Local Plan conflicts with the direction of travel strategic level planning across the region is taking, which CPBC itself has signed up to. 5. Local Plan Examination Correspondence 5.1 In CPBC 022, CPBC confirm in answer to INSP/01 questions about A New Access for Canvey Island that: “the Council is committed to securing better access to Canvey Island” but that “The delivery of this project is not a policy requirement of the Local Plan. However it is referenced in the Local Plan as a strategic highway policy due to its importance to the local community. CPBC intended to explore how this project could be delivered in the longer term….all options for improving access ….will be explored and tested..CPBC has commenced conversations with Essex County Council regarding an Access to Canvey Island Study. In absence of reference to this Scheme in the Local Plan it would be harder to elicit assistance from partners in achieving improved access to Canvey Island”.” 6. Wider Road Network and other Relevant Proposals 6.1 Table 14.1 of the LP described the proposed “New Access to Canvey Island” as “construction of a third access to Canvey Island from Northwick Road, crossing Holehaven Creek, to the Manorway A1014 on the mainland”. 2 which is incorrectly labelled as a letter dated 29/1/2021 when it is in fact dated 2/2/2021. 4 DPWLG&TEPL CPBC Local Plan Examination Matter 1 6.2 The route of the A1014 is identified on the local area plans provided at Appendix 1 and 2. These plans also identify the location of Northwick Road along with sites of the LG and TEP developments. 6.3 The A1014 is defined as a Level 1 Strategic Non-Trunk road running in a general west to east direction. To the west the A1014 connects to the A13 via the A13/A1014 grade separated roundabout junction (known locally, and identified on the plans at Appendix 1 and 2, as Stanford Interchange). Approximately 6.2km east of the A13 the A1014 terminates at its entrance to the TEP site. Thus, the A1014 provides the sole means of access to the LG and TEP sites for freight traffic (noting all local roads within the Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham and Fobbing area are subject to 7.5 tonne weight limits and therefore prohibit