Harwich International Container Terminal (HICT) received planning consent in 2006 and was due to be built on Bathside Bay adjacent to Harwich International Port.
In a letter to the Council, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPC) said that it had taken the decision “particularly in light of the anticipated costs and delay associated with a call-in and public inquiry.”
The Tendring District Council (TDC) has expressed concern that this could jeopardise the whole development plan at Harwich’s Bathside Bay, vital to the local area’s future economical and regeneration plans.
Top level talks are due to take place at Whitehall in December to try to rescue the development.
TDC Council Leader, Neil Stock, said that he was frankly not surprised by the decision because the original application was made back in 2006.
He added: “We constantly hear that planning should not stifle the country’s economic growth but then the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government seems to go totally against that edict where Bathside Bay is concerned.”
The worry is that HPH will go elsewhere now to invest. HPH refused to comment on the issue.