Canvey Island: 'Business is booming'

Work is underway on the major new park, in Roscommon Way, but in the mean time plans have been approved for two businesses to expand within Charfleets Industrial Estate, Canvey.

Planning permission has been granted for one business on the corner of Charfleets Road and Kings Road to demolish one warehouse unit, but construct an extension of an industrial unit, and a new HGV crossover.

Another firm has been granted permission to construct a new building containing four workshops on Kings Close.

Chas Mumford, deputy chair of Castle Point Council’s development control committee, declared the news as a great sign for Canvey’s industrial estates and insisted the firms will still succeed alongside the new business park.

He said: “I would definitely say it is a sign that business is booming on Canvey, which is great.

“We, as a council, are keen to ensure that business and our industrial estates thrive on Canvey and across Castle Point.

“Obviously we have plans in place for the new industrial estate, but businesses expanded is a sign that both Charfleets and the new industrial estate will succeed.

“We have a good working population, and a skilled workforce, as well as two training colleges and campuses that supply a workforce, so there is plenty of reason to come to Castle Point.”

Mr Mumford added: “It makes it attractive for businesses. It is about creating the right environment so businesses want to set up in our industrial estates or choose to expand.”

Despite concerns over progress of the Roscommon Way business park, Larry Fenttiman told the Echo last month the project was still on track and is expected to create more 600 new jobs.

As well as large units, a huge new centre for small businesses to use as their base.

It is expected room will be made for around 50 new units.

Last year, Mr Fenttiman told the Echo there had been a lot of interest from trade people; manufacturers and distributors and a number of smaller businesses for the units.