Associated British Ports (ABP) has unveiled plans to bring forward more than 1,000 acres of land across its 海角视频-wide portfolio for new employment development targeting the manufacturing and renewable sectors.
ABP, which operates 21 ports around the 海角视频, has identified 14 strategic sites for development, including its Newport, Cardiff and Port Talbot ports in South Wales.
Next year will see the release of further opportunities. All locations benefit from strong rail and road connectivity as well as renewable energy generation.
During the next 18 months, ABP has committed to spending more than 拢5m to make the sites ready for development, obtaining appropriate outline planning consents, technical understanding and carrying out essential land preparation. It will then look to developers to take projects forward.
ABP鈥檚 chief executive, Henrik L. Pedersen, said: 鈥淥ur ports 鈥 with their superb connectivity both domestic and internationally, together with established infrastructure 鈥 already play a key role in the 海角视频 manufacturing, supply chain and energy sectors.
鈥淭his initiative will enable a growing number of businesses to leverage our land, property partnering expertise and power capacity. We believe this can make a significant contribution to the country鈥檚 economic vibrancy and supply chain efficiency.
鈥淎BP is a strategic partner for 海角视频 businesses assisting the country鈥檚 post-pandemic recovery, and achieving the common goal of decarbonisation.鈥
The four Welsh sites encompassed by the initiative are:
- ABP Business Park, Cardiff (36 acres)
- Atlantic Side South Dock & West Way, Newport (two sites of 73 acres and 18 acres respectively)
- Harbourside, Port Talbot (85 acres).
In England it has identified port land at Hull, Southampton, Liverpool, Immingham, Grimsby and Ipswich, for development.
Bruce Robertson, head of supply chain and consumer advisory at CBRE 鈥 which is advising ABP on the initiative said: 鈥淭he country needs more distribution hubs adjacent to major conurbations with a good labour supply and which can connect into our road and rail networks. These ABP sites are superbly situated to do just that.
鈥淭he need for more warehouse space to fulfil online retailing 鈥 which is growing and was accelerated by the pandemic 鈥 plus ongoing labour shortages are putting unprecedented pressure on the 海角视频鈥檚 supply chain.鈥
Port-centric manufacturing projects have already seen ABP partner with a wide range of businesses to co-invest in bespoke facilities. And as the 海角视频 reshapes its energy generation strategy, port locations will play an increasingly important role in supporting the offshore wind industry.
Mr Pedersen added: 鈥淥ne of our biggest offshore wind projects is Green Port Hull 鈥 a 拢310m state-of-the-art production and assembly facility on which we partnered with the wind turbine supplier, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
鈥溾淔acilities off the South Wales coast will play a pivotal role in green energy generation in the Celtic Sea, and we believe our land development initiative can help anticipate future manufacturing demand for these facilities on the way towards a net zero carbon country.鈥
ABP recently launched its ambitious plans for South Wales in its Future ports: Wales vision.
Th strategy outlines a decarbonised future with a focus on Port Talbot.
As well as Port Talbot, Cardiff and Newport, it also has port operations in Barry and Swansea.
ABP said it recognises they will now need to play a pivotal role in Wales鈥 transition to a low carbon economy.
Andrew Harston, director ABP Wales and Short Sea Ports said:鈥淲e need to imagine a changed world, understand its opportunities, and focus on the outcomes we need. We cannot make hard and fast predictions, but we can sketch the outlines of what needs doing. We need a new approach to realise the huge potential of Wales鈥 strategic port locations; to build the foundations of a new cycle of innovation and prosperity and time is of the essence.鈥
ABP said it is keen to seize is the potential to create a floating offshore wind (FLOW) centre of excellence in the Celtic Sea. It said its Port of Port Talbot is well positioned to do so a it benefits for the required deep waters. The port operator said that Port Talbot also has brownfield land ready for development, good rail connections, proximity to steel, marine and aggregates and access to thousands of skilled workers.
The port is currently predominantly used for imports of coking coal, minerals and ores for Tata鈥檚 Port Talbot steelworks. ABP plans to work with the steel giant and others to make its vision a reality.
Chairman of the Tata Steel 海角视频 board, Sandip Biswas, said: 鈥淭he port is a vital connection for us allowing the direct import of raw materials for steelmaking.
We are excited to see ABP developing its vision for the future and look forward to working closely with ABP to realise these plans. It is only by working together in partnership that we can all develop a better, more sustainable, world for the future.鈥
Simon Brown, ABP鈥檚 divisional port manager for Wales and the south west of England said: 鈥淲e know that ports can鈥檛 make the changes alone. It will be necessary to develop a shared vision based on new ways of working between business, government, academia and communities. Greater collaboration will make sure that we share risks, rewards, and intelligence, and deliver better outcomes for the economy, the environment and our societies.鈥
