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Felixstowe South Port Reconfiguration Approved
01 Feb 2006
At the end of last month UK Transport Minister Derek Twigg announced that he has approved the proposals for a new container terminal at Felixstowe South. The proposals by Hutchison Ports involve the reconfiguration of the Port's original Dock Basin, an area previously used by P&O North Sea Ferries, and Landguard Terminal as a deep-sea container port. The redevelopment will add almost 1km of quayside dedicated to the handling of more containers at Felixstowe.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also granting planning permission for the landward works forming part of the reconfiguration proposals. The decision to approve the new terminal is in line with the recommendation of the Inspector who reported last year on the public inquiry held into the proposals in 2004.
Commenting on the announcement, Derek Twigg said, 'The proposed reconfiguration of the port will contribute significantly to meeting the national need for additional container handling capacity in a sustainable manner. I am satisfied that the proposals' impacts on infrastructure and on the environment are acceptable and are adequately addressed by the proposed package of mitigation and other measures agreed by the promoters. It is important to ensure that the wider impacts of major port developments are fully taken into account.'
Hutchison Ports UK, owners of the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company, made applications to the Secretary of State for Transport for a Harbour Revision Order, a Transport and Works Act Order and consent under the Coast Protection Act for various works and powers.
There is also an associated application by the Harwich Haven Authority for a Coast Protection Act consent for capital dredging. Hutchison Ports' associated application for planning permission is being determined in parallel by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Features of the development will include 1,350m of quay dredged to 16m alongside and an approach channel dredged to 14.5m. An additional 13 ship to shore gantry cranes will bring the total number in operation at the port to 38. An all new North Rail Terminal, capable of removing up to 500,000 lorries per year from Britain's crowded roads, is included in the plan.
The first phase of the new terminal is expected to be operational in 2008, with the new facility creating 621 direct jobs when fully operational, plus an additional 860 in associated industries.
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