Transport minister Gillian Merron has given final approval to the proposed London Gateway port in the Thames estuary at Thurrock, which is expected to create up to 1,900 jobs in the area.
The decision was made following an agreement between port promoters P&O and local authorities regarding the impact of the development on the region's highway network.
Situated at the former Shell refinery at Shellhaven, the port will comprise seven container vessel berths and a roll-on roll-off facility stretched along 2.7 kilometres. It will also feature an adjacent commercial centre and business park, after the government granted planning permission.
"London Gateway will be able to provide much needed capacity for handling the UK's growing international trade in containers," said Ms Merron.
P&O is owned by DP World, the world's third largest operator of container ports.
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