Billions pumped into Essex's transport gateways

More than £2bn is to be pumped into expanding two separate transport gateways in Essex. DP World, the owner of P&O Ferries, announced its much-anticipated £1bn plan to make London Gateway "Britain's largest container port" on Monday. Shortly afterwards, The Department for Transport (DfT) said £1.1bn would be spent on an expansion project at London Stansted Airport. It was also announced at the International Investment Summit earlier that London Stansted Airport would benefit from a GBP1.1b expansion programme. The plans were approved in October 2023 but had been subject to confirmation of funding. Blueprints released by the DfT showed up to 5,000 new on-site jobs would be created as a result of the scheme. About GBP600m of the money will be spent on extending the existing terminal, which will increase its size by a third, while the airport works to offer more airlines. Airport CE Ken O'Toole said the expansion would connect people in London and the East of England to "even more global destinations". He said it would enable "millions more visitors to the UK". Haigh added: "This announcement is a clear signal that Britain is open for business. Transport is central to this government's core mission of growing the economy."<br/>