Environment Agency's Lord Chris Smith visits London Gateway

United Kingdom, London Gateway, November 2011: Lord Chris Smith, Environment Agency Chairman has visited London Gateway to view what is now recognised as one of Europe’s largest environmental management programmes. 

The London Gateway development site, which spans over three square miles, has needed over 100 environmental licenses and approvals in the past eight years from various Government departments and agencies, making London Gateway a unique development for the UK in terms of size and scale.

The environmental licences are an important part of the London Gateway delivery programme that provide DP World with Government permissions to carry out a wide variety of work such as engineering and water discharge as well as moving animals off the site before work could start at the former oil refinery.

Thousands of animals have been moved from the new port and Logistics Park site, situated 25 miles east of central London on the north bank of the Thames, including great crested newts, water voles, slow worms, adders and grass snakes.

The complex task of licensing and monitoring the new port site has benefited from a close working partnership between the Environment Agency’s Anglian Regional Team and DP World’s Environmental Management Team.

Lord Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency said: “London Gateway is an exciting development, and will provide a major boost to the economy of the region. I was very pleased to be able to see the excellent working relationship that is in place between this huge complex project and the Environment Agency.  There are lots of challenges on projects like this and it’s great to see the first class work that is being carried out.”

Simon Moore, London Gateway CEO, said: “We were delighted to welcome Lord Smith to see the progress we have made with our construction work and world class environmental management programme.  We are confident that we will continue to deliver outstanding environmental management in the future”.

A new 30 hectare wildlife zone known as the Stanford Wharf Nature Reserve has been created to provide thousands of birds with a feeding ground in the Estuary.  The Environment Agency has confirmed that numerous species of fish have been attracted to the area and that the new reserve is now well established.

London Gateway won the Lloyds List Environmental Award in 2010 and was the first port construction project to be awarded ISO 1401:2004 by LRQA for environmental management. Marcus Pearson, London Gateway Environment Manager, said: “London Gateway has a very good working relationship with the Environment Agency, this team work ethic has ensured construction works have never been delayed whilst waiting for regulatory sign off of permits and consents.”

Environment Agency officials view the building of the quay wall at London Gateway.

Left to right: Marcus Pearson, London Gateway Environment Manager, Paul Woodcock, EA Anglian Regional Director, Lord Chris Smith, Environment Agency Chairman, Steve Bewers, EA Project Manager (London Gateway), Charles Beardall, EA Anglian Area Manager (Eastern) and Simon Moore, London Gateway CEO. 

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 About DP World

 DP World operates more than 60 terminals across six continents¹, with container handling generating around 80% of its revenue.  In addition, the company currently has 10 new developments and major expansions underway in 10 countries. 

 DP World aims to enhance customers’ supply chain efficiency by effectively managing container, bulk and other terminal cargo.  Its dedicated, experienced and professional team of nearly 30,000 people serves customers in some of the most dynamic economies in the world. 

 The company constantly invests in terminal infrastructure, facilities and people, working closely with customers and business partners to provide quality services today and tomorrow, when and where customers need them.

 In taking this customer-centric approach, DP World is building on the established relationships and superior level of service demonstrated at its flagship Jebel Ali facility in Dubai, which has been voted “Best Seaport in the Middle East” for 17 consecutive years.

 In 2010, DP World handled nearly 50 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) across its portfolio from the Americas to Asia. With a pipeline of expansion and development projects in key growth markets, including India, China and the Middle East, capacity is expected to rise to around 95 million TEU by 2020, in line with market demand.

www.dpworld.com

(1) As of September 2011. Includes non-container terminals