The Port of Tilbury is progressing a major expansion of its port and industrial operations through the redevelopment of a 100-acre brownfield site adjacent to Tilbury2. This new area, known as Tilbury3, forms part of the Thames Freeport and benefits from the wider policy support and tax incentives aimed at encouraging investment, trade and employment growth.
Tilbury3 is planned to accommodate a broad mix of port-related uses, including industrial storage, warehousing and processing, a construction materials and aggregate terminal, container handling and storage, and extensive vehicle storage. The site occupies part of the former Tilbury Power Station and sits directly next to Tilbury2, creating an opportunity to extend and share existing access arrangements, as well as wider road, river and rail freight connections.
The transport challenge was not simply to serve a single development site, but to support the next phase of growth for an already significant logistics and freight gateway. The client needed a strategy that would strengthen the site’s role within the wider freight network, make best use of shared infrastructure across Tilbury2 and Tilbury3, and respond to strong policy expectations around sustainable freight movement, reduced emissions and improved network resilience.
Building on our work for Tilbury2, iTransport developed a comprehensive access and infrastructure strategy to support the port’s continued expansion through Tilbury3.
A key part of the approach was enhancing rail capacity through the creation of a dedicated rail siding for Tilbury3. This was designed to complement the existing Tilbury2 siding, which had already helped support growth in rail-based imports and exports and reduce reliance on road freight. By strengthening the role of rail within the wider port operation, the strategy was able to support both commercial growth and wider sustainability objectives.
To ensure the most efficient use of shared road and rail infrastructure, we prepared a Combined Travel and Sustainable Distribution Plan covering both Tilbury2 and Tilbury3. This created a joined-up framework for staff travel and freight movement across the wider estate, rather than treating the two sites in isolation. It also allowed for shared services and facilities, including a dedicated shuttle bus for shift workers, helping support workforce movement as well as freight distribution.
The plan was developed through close collaboration with National Highways and Thurrock Council, alongside assessment of residual traffic impacts on the surrounding network. Throughout, the aim was to create a practical and vision-led transport strategy that aligned with the port’s operational requirements while supporting local, regional and national policy priorities.
The Tilbury3 proposals deliver strategic transport enhancements that reinforce the Port of Tilbury’s role as a key freight gateway for the Thames Estuary and wider South East.
By improving rail freight capacity and taking a unified approach to travel and distribution planning across Tilbury2 and Tilbury3, the project established a strong framework for both operational growth and more sustainable movement of goods and people. This supports wider objectives around reducing emissions, easing pressure on the road network and improving freight resilience.
Overall, the transport strategy helped position Tilbury3 not just as an extension of an existing port operation, but as a major infrastructure and employment project capable of supporting long-term growth in trade, logistics and regional investment.
We provide the full range of specialist transport planning services needed to take schemes from early concept through to consent and delivery.
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