Plymouth City Council, Brittany Ferries and Associated British Ports (ABP) and are working on landing government money for the plan in the Millbay area to increase the amount of freight going through the port.
The city’s leaders are also looking to make the port attractive to cruise ships by building a new terminal as well as a pontoon to tender to super yachts.
Freeport Status
The city applied to be a freeport last year and it was approved by the Government, Freeports aim to create economic activity near shipping ports or airports, with imported goods exempt from tariffs normally paid to the UK government on arrival.
Council leader Richard Bingley said it was a “golden opportunity for the docks and the city to raise our global investment profile.
We want more jobs at the port and beyond, more journeys to more destinations, and for Plymouth to be a major player as new freight opportunities arise, particularly as we move towards our freeport status.”
A statement by the city council said that it was working with ABP and Brittany Ferries “on a funding strategy for Millbay, which is likely to consider strategic government funding”.
Millbay history
Millbay was built by the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was once a key staging post for Atlantic ocean liners. Plymouth’s docklands are also the subject of a regeneration project to create a new waterfront quarter for Plymouth.
Get in touch with us about how using a Freeport could benefit your next shipment, use our contact form or give us a call on 02380 860585