• Examples of our work
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• London Gateway
• Scottish and Southern Energy
• The Environment Agency

London Gateway

"Thomson Ecology’s first class project management skills and knowledge of all the legislation have assisted us with keeping the programme on target. Thank you."  Simon Moore, CEO, London Gateway, DP World

We have been working on one of the biggest ecology projects in the UK- the London Gateway Port and Commercial Park development.

Once completed, London Gateway will be the most fully automated and efficient port in the world and will become the national hub for transport and logistics in the UK.

For the past two years we have been employed by DP World and Laing O’Rourke on the 350 hectare site that was formerly the Shell Haven Depot.

The brownfield site had been left undisturbed for several years. As a result a number of protected species had made their home there.

DP World undertook to protect these species by creating suitable habitats on adjacent land and moving the animals away from the development site to the purpose built habitats. To achieve this task they appointed Thomson Ecology.

Working hand-in-hand with our sister company, Thomson Habitats, we designed and created the new habitats and then captured and relocated the animals to their new homes. Habitats created included 26 ponds for great crested newts, ditches for water voles and hibernacula and log piles for reptiles. Badgers were also excluded from the site to prevent them from harm.

A rare plant nursery was created from plants and seeds found on the site, some of which have now been planted around the newly created ponds.

Water voles captured on the site have been quarantined and temporarily housed at the Wildwood Trust in Kent for later release onto the River Colne, once mink, predators of voles, have been trapped and removed from the river.

Additionally, we are carrying out both breeding and wintering bird surveys to determine if the development has an impact on these birds. New intertidal mudflats are to be created for wading birds this year and we will also monitor these.

Strong project management skills and good liaison with DP World, Natural England and other involved parties have ensured that the development on this huge site can progress whilst preserving, and hopefully, in time, enhancing the wildlife and its habitats.