Eddie Stobart is to open a container transport site at DP World London Gateway, which it hopes will support growth plans in the South.

The base will serve customers and destinations across the UK and will reduce current delivery times into London.

The operator hopes the site will help reduce mileage and costs for its customers, as well as help them reach carbon reduction targets.

Eddie Stobart chief executive Alex Laffey, who joined the company in April from Tesco, said: “We see the potential at DP World London Gateway and the opportunity to offer our customers greater cost efficiencies and environmentally friendly supply chain solutions.

“As a multimodal transport and warehouse provider, we believe that London Gateway provides a natural strategic fit with the growth plans for our business. We look forward to working in partnership with the DP World team so that we can jointly offer world class transport solutions."

Other operators to open up sites at London Gateway include Pentalver, which opened a permanent operation at the port following a trial earlier this year; and Southampton-based Import Services, which is operating the London Gateway Logistics Centre on behalf of port operator DP World.