Go-ahead for port will bring 5,500 jobs (From The Northern Echo)

Go-ahead for port will bring 5,500 jobs

5:02am Friday 22nd February 2008 in Support Our Port By Julia Breen

MORE than 5,500 jobs are on their way to the North-East after the Government approved plans for a £300m investment to transform the economic fortunes of the region.

Teesport owner PD Ports has won approval for its deep-water container terminal on the River Tees, which will increase the port's capacity six-fold and turn it into a major international freight destination.

The multi-million pound investment, known as the Northern Gateway scheme, will allow traffic from Asia and the Far East to dock and unload on the Tees. It is expected to be ready by 2011.

The Northern Echo exclusively revealed plans for the £300m deep-sea container terminal three years ago and since then has campaigned to help it win Government approval.

MPs and investment chiefs say the development will bring much-needed jobs to the region and help bridge the £29bn North-South economic divide.

It will also cut road congestion and emissions because more containers will move by sea rather than on the UK's motorways.

A deep-water terminal could add as much as £500m to the region's annual economic output.

Transport secretary Ruth Kelly announced her approval for the plans yesterday, clearing the way for the scheme to go ahead.

The terminal will allow larger ships to bring goods direct from Asia and the Far East, instead of freight being shipped to southern ports and brought to the North in lorries.

It is expected to cut tens of millions of lorry miles and ease heavily-congested roads and ports in the South of England.

Developers say the project will create about 500 jobs - plus 5,000 more with new warehouses and distribution centres at Teesport.

They hope it may even attract new assembly plants that would put the final touches to goods manufactured in the Far East.

PD Ports chief executive David Robinson said: "This is very significant news for the North of England and for the supply chains of very many UK companies.

"Today is a significant step for Teesport and for the maritime industry as a whole. A deep-sea container terminal on the Tees will attract container ships direct to Teesport from around the globe.

"All those imported goods needed for Northern consumers and retailers in the likes of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle can now travel the short distance from port to consumer via retailers' shelves. This will also result in tens of millions of lorry miles being saved by stopping the wastefulness of all those containers being landed at a southern UK port but being destined by road or rail for the North." The application is one of the fastest port expansions to be approved. PD development director Martyn Pellew said: "Undoubtedly, the help and support we have had in the region has helped this go through quickly and without any objections." He thanked The Northern Echo for its long-running campaign and said it had been crucial in raising awareness about the economic benefits the expansion could bring to the region. Redcar MP Vera Baird, who has been a staunch supporter of the scheme, said: "The team at PD Ports have worked extremely hard to get this far and I have supported them in their efforts to bring this major development to the area. The importance of creating over 5,000 jobs as we continue raising employment in the region is crucial."