A FURTHER cash boost has been announced for a project to transform an oil refinery site into a business park.

Thames Enterprise Park Ltd has revealed the £8.5m of investment to help transform the former Coryton Oil Refinery site into a new business park ,creating up to 4,500 jobs.

The multi-million investment is being used to fund essential land preparation work of a quarter of the 415-acre site, the equivalent of about 800 football pitches.

The work is being undertaken by specialist remediation contractors DSM Demolition and will be ready for development in 2020.

In April 2017, planning for the work was approved by Thurrock Council and all work will be undertaken in close collaboration between Thames Enterprise Park Ltd, DSM Demolition, Thurrock Council and the Environment Agency and under a special permit issued by the Environment Agency.

A stringent monitoring regime has been agreed, covering matters such as noise, dust, vibrations and odour and monitoring will be in place throughout the works.

The land work is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 with 17 acres of land safeguarded to provide an ecological enhanced corridor.

The plans for the redevelopment of the whole site will be decided on later this year.