Calls have been made to make the Humber one of the first freeport zones.
Chairman of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Pat Doody, said it was the “perfect location to take a leading role in post-Brexit international trade,” while South Bank MP Martin Vickers - who chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the proposal - described the Humber as having the potential to be one of the best bids.
Port of Immingham is the largest port by tonnage in the 海角视频, while neighbouring Grimsby is a key port for car imports and other bulks. Able Marine Energy Park at North Killingholme is also ready to play a major role in the green recovery - as part of the Humber offshore wind cluster opportunity recently launched.
“The Humber is home to one the largest and most far-reaching ports complexes in the 海角视频, and it’s the perfect location to take a leading role in post-Brexit international trade,” Mr Doody said.
“This would be a massive opportunity for our area and would help bring huge investment and jobs for local people in offshore wind, decarbonisation and advanced manufacturing.
“The ports currently employ 35,000 people and handle £74 billion in trade every year.
“Announcing the Humber as a 海角视频 freeport will be crucial to this Government’s commitment to levelling up the economy across the 海角视频.”
South Bank interests now fall under Mr Doody’s watch after North and North East Lincolnshire opted to split from the Humber LEP when the government insisted on single representation.
Most Read
The North Bank is just setting about creating a new Hull and East Yorkshire entity, with chairs from both LEPs and the four unitary authority’s leaders to sit on a Humber Leadership Board. Energy, decarbonisation and ports agendas will sit with it, Humber LEP chair Stephen Parnaby OBE confirmed at last week's annual meeting.
The bidding process opened on Monday, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak describing freeports as the opportunity to “turbo-charge post-Brexit trade”.
At least seven freeports are to be established in England, the first as early as next year.
They will benefit from a wide range of tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and streamlined planning processes to promote regeneration and innovation.
A deadline for bids has been set for Friday, February 5, and decisions are expected to be announced in the spring. Simon Bird, ABP port director, has underlined how a “compelling” pan-Humber case is being put forward.
It came just days after a further 300 hectares of development space for a 'Green Port Two' were also flagged in Hull as potential to meet the surge in offshore wind demand.
Mr Vickers has Immingham and AMEP in his Cleethorpes constituency, with the latter recently signing an agreement with South Korean steel giant SeAH to have monopile manufacturing on site - a potential freeport beneficiary as goods are exported to the European market as well as serving the 海角视频. He said: “The support from industry is very positive. The port operators, ABP and Able are on board, they want to get the Humber ports designated.
Don’t miss
“Many businesses I have spoken to can see the advantages, and the reality is, as evidence from around the world has shown, they act as magnets for investment in the area.
“I know Simon Bird and his team are fully committed, there is work for the LEP and the councils too, and I feel we can make one of the best bids.”