Freeports in UK 12 months later
The demand for relocation to the logistics zone at Thames Freeport is growing fast. With the announcement that a new GBP 300 million fourth berth at London Gateway – one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects – will create even more capacity for the world’s largest vessels, the attraction for investors keeps growing. The influx looks set to transform the economic fortunes of the Thames Estuary in the 2020s.
That is the verdict from Ford, DP World and Forth Ports on the 12 month’s anniversary of the British government’s announcement that it would be one of the nation's first eight freeports. Ernst Schulze, chief executive of DP World in UK, added: “We have seen the best year for new business in a decade at our port-centric logistics park."
Similarly, expansion at the Port of Tilbury shows no signs of slowing. Built and operational during the height of the pandemic, Tilbury 2, the new 648 sqm port terminal, handles containers and trailers with exported and imported goods, including food, drink and medical supplies to and from continental Europe on P&O Ferries’ busy Tilbury-Zeebrugge freight route.
Commenting on the first anniversary of freeport shortlisting, Ruth Kelly, chair of Thames Freeport, said: “The growth at our manufacturing and logistics cluster continues to go from strength-to-strength, as businesses fast track their investment decisions to be located at Thames Freeport.” (sh)