A FORMAL ten-year extension is being sought for long-awaited plans to build a deep sea container terminal at the mouth of the River Tees.

PD Ports, which owns Teesport, was granted planning permission by the Government in 2008 to build its ‘Northern Gateway’ container terminal in order to allow direct imports from the Far East and Asia.

The company has now applied to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for more time to complete the project.

The MMO is a Government body which licences and regulates marine activities around UK coasts.

PD Ports said a downturn in demand meant that the authorised works would not be completed within the timescale currently permitted and therefore it had applied for an extension.

A spokeswoman said: “The investment and growth we have seen in the container platform at Teesport in the last ten years is a clear demonstration of the demand for the Port is growing as a natural gateway to serve the Northern UK markets.

“The application to extend the Harbour Revision Order is part of the long-term master plan for Teesport and will ensure we will deliver capacity for our growing customer base.”

Teesport has been the focus of a number of high profile ministerial visits in recent months.

Last week Brexit Secretary David Davis, visited Teesport on the day he made a major speech on the Brexit implementation period.

He praised the facility and said it was a “gateway to the world”.

Prime Minister Theresa May also toured Teesport over the summer.

She chaired a meeting of the South Tees Development Corporation board where she discussed plans to regenerate the area, including the nearby former SSI site.

While the deep sea container terminal is yet to be finished, a £50m project has been completed, refurbishing a quay originally built in the 1960s.