Insights Port of Tilbury T2 Development - Masterplanning

Following the Port of Tilbury’s purchase of 152 acres of land, part of the former Tilbury Power Station being decommissioned at the time of purchase, Atkins was initially appointed to develop the T2 port masterplan.

This would identify how the land may be sustainably developed, inform stakeholders of developments, set out approximate timescales for development, and integrate economic, engineering, environmental and safety considerations while allowing the port to respond to changing technology, cargo trends, legislation and competition. Following successful completion of the masterplan, we were then asked to develop the detailed design and support the development consent order submission comprising a roll-on-roll-off ferry terminal, construction materials and aggregates terminal, deep water jetty, storage, and an ‘infrastructure corridor’ with road and rail links and access to the strategic M25 motorway.

The Solution

Working collaboratively, we consulted on technical, operational and cost aspects to offer relevant, resilient advice with tangible, deliverable outcomes and to inform commercial discussions. Our T2 masterplan included research on current choke points, understanding best practice for departure and arrival arrangements, and consequent impact on traffic. A range of factors were included in the final design including the size and frequency of arrivals and departures, terminal capacity, cargo type, proportions of different types of ferry traffic, the speed of operation including customs arrangements, associated infrastructure and traffic impact and market trends. We used aerial photogrammetry which gave significant accuracy when transferring into a 3D digital twin model that the client and stakeholders were able to relate to, and we developed the terminal layout options with various stakeholders.

The Results

Our masterplan and design allowed for the expansion and continuation of existing port operations. The T2 terminal will act as a satellite of the main port comprising a roll-on-roll-off ferry facility connected to the national road and rail networks, including facilities for importing and processing bulk construction materials to support the UK’s building sector, with further land available for the storage of general cargo, including cars. Our industry-leading expertise in port terminal design provided the most efficient layout for the diversity of operations envisaged by the client. We framed tender questions, provided a technical review, evaluated tenders and designed the port and associated road and rail links. The flexible design also enables additional customs and clearance checks.