A LONG-AWAITED container port terminal in Harwich is one step closer to becoming reality after new plans were given the go-ahead.

Tendring Council has approved plans for a new natural habitat in Little Oakley to compensate for the impact the Bathside Bay development will have on wildlife. 

Hutchison Port, which runs Harwich International Port, is looking to build a new container pot terminal - a facility which cargo containers are transferred between different vehicles - at Bathside Bay.

Due to the site being an area of international importance for wildlife, a new mudflat and saltmarsh habitat will now be built on the edge of Hamford Water to offset the impact the works could have on habitats. 

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Coast - Harwich Quay

As part of the plans a new sea wall will be established, while the breach of the existing one will remain. 

Five viewing platforms and permissive footpaths around the site will maintain access to the natural environment for residents and visitors. 

Ecological concerns were raised during the committee’s debate about whether the project would be enough to compensate the impact of the scheme.

Ivan Henderson, cabinet member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, welcomed the committee’s decision. 

He said: “This planning permission is an important step on the path to realising the potential of Freeport East, particularly around sustainable development of Bathside Bay, bringing skills opportunities and raising aspirations for our residents. 

“I am, therefore, pleased the planning committee felt able to approve this planning application.” 

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

Despite granting of the planning permission, Hutchison Port will need to obtain a license from the government’s Marine Management Organisation before the work can commence. 

This separate process will consider the water-related impacts of the proposals in further detail. 

Andy Baker, Tendring Council's housing and planning boss, added: “Significant applications such as this need to be carefully considered, weighing a number of factors between planning policy, public interest, environmental impact.

"My thanks go to our planning officers for the time they have spent to assess this in-depth, and also to members of our planning committee for their thorough scrutiny and consideration of this application.”