As Brexit Looms So British Ports Invest in Infrastructure

UK – The British Ports Association (BPA) has published new research by infrastructure advisory firm Moffatt & Nichol which estimates that UK ports and terminals are set to invest approximately £1.7 billion into port infrastructure. The research, part of the British Ports Association's 'Port Futures' programme, identified significant schemes all over the UK and highlights how ports in all parts of the UK are investing in new facilities to foster growth in the UK market. Mark Simmonds, the British Ports Association's Policy Manager and BPA Port Futures Programme Coordinator said:

“Ports are doing their bit, but we rely on Government to ensure that road and rail connections from the port gate are fit for purpose. The terrestrial and marine planning and consenting process is also cumbersome and costly and often holds back or even prevents some sustainable port development. We hope that this report helps Government to develop an accurate picture of the investment that industry is making when developing its policies and making its own investment decisions regarding infrastructure.

“This research demonstrates that UK ports are investing in new infrastructure to keep goods and people moving as efficiently as possible. The UK ports industry operates in a competitive and commercial environment, independently of Government, so this significant investment is at no cost to the taxpayer.”

Moffatt & Nichol undertook the assessment using publicly sourced data taken from the last 12 months. The research was carried out by the infrastructure advisory firm’s Joseph Collins, who said: “This report focusses on developments which have been announced in the press in the last 12 months and provides a snapshot of shows the potential scale of UK ports’ investment in infrastructure. and Despite there being no guarantee that all of these projects will be fully realised, with greater engagement between key stakeholders such as Government, the Ports, Investors and Statutory Bodies, the realisation of these developments has the best chance of success.

”It’s also likely that there are a many more privately financed infrastructure projects planned or underway all around the country, which haven’t been discussed in public yet. Together, these projects help ensure that the 95% of UK trade that moves through our ports continues to do so as efficiently as possible.”

The British Ports Association will be writing to the Infrastructure Projects Authority to ensure that officials have a clear picture of industry investment, highlighting significant projects such as Aberdeen’s £350 million new ‘south harbour’ project and the Port of Tyne’s £38 million investment in in support of an overall £300 million development of a new biomass plant. There are over a dozen other significant port projects listed in the research. These projects were not included in the most recent ‘pipeline’ report from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, but demonstrate great optimism in infrastructure development and growth in the port sector.