Exciting plans have been revealed for a huge enterprise park which will create thousands of jobs for the area.

Developers behind the Thames Enterprise Park, on the site of the former Coryton Oil Refinery, are hailing the submission of the application as “an important milestone” for the project.

The plans for are to turn the industrial site into a “superhub” which developers hope can be enjoyed both by employees working on site and by visitors.

Chief Executive Chris Brookhouse said: “The submission of the planning application marks an important milestone in the evolution of this exciting project.

“We will continue to work closely with the Thurrock Council, businesses and community stakeholders including schools and colleges to ensure that people are best placed to take advantage of the wide variety of employment opportunities the development will bring.”

The development on the 415-acre site is being driven by Greenergy in partnership with iSec and is expected to create an estimated 4,500 jobs for the area

The planning application, which was the result of extensive public consultation, proposes to create zones for different types of businesses.

This will include a food hub which will feature processing, packaging, storage and distribution businesses.

There will also be an energy hub and a sustainable industries hub which will be a focal point for smaller sized businesses to develop new technologies and techniques for the energy and food logistics industries.

The businesses will be centred around an “amenity hub” which will include cafes, a gym and a creche.

Developers also hope to provide an attractive landscaped environment with dedicated footpaths and cycleways around the site, with shops located along a central boulevard and a landscaped corridor along the length of the Shellhaven Creek enhanced with native species.

One of the old and iconic refinery chimneys will be re-used as an illuminated beacon for the development.