Associated British Ports (ABP) has submitted a planning application for the development of land at its Stallingborough Interchange site to provide high quality automotive open storage space to new and existing customers of the Ports of Immingham and Grimsby.
The largest port operator in the UK completed the purchase of the freehold of the 227.5-acre site in December last year signalling a commitment to its new property strategy.
An outline planning application has been submitted across 96 acres of the site to be targeted towards the automotive sector. The planning application includes external storage and distribution of goods and products (Class B8) associated with port-related import-export activities; together with up to 12,000 square metres floor space of associated buildings, landscaping (including land for biodiversity net gain), infrastructure, ground mounted solar PVs and other associated works.
Andrew Dawes, Regional Director of the Humber ports said:
“This strategic investment in the growth of our Humber ports continues to ensure we maintain a leading position in the port sector. Supporting our customers expansion is also critical as it assists the investment in the region for jobs.
“Demand is expected to increase for energy generation, automotive storage, bulk warehousing, and storage and distribution uses and this new site will ensure the delivery of state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities, and technological innovation for new and existing customers.”
Greg Lacey, Head of Property (Humber) for ABP said:
“A year after the purchase of what is such a significant investment site, we bring to fruition our shared ambition to create a major UK port logistics development. This is part of the wider Stallingborough development that will deliver up to a further 1.5m sq. ft. of industrial and manufacturing space across the remainder of the site that benefits from an existing planning consent.
“The site is one of the largest development land parcels in such proximity to the ports, and of significant scale versus wider opportunities in the Yorkshire region. The sizeable investment we made in this shows ABP is a key player in supporting the growth of commercial activities within the region.”
70 acres of the site will be developed for the automotive sector to support the growth at the Ports of Immingham and Grimsby for both existing customers for import and export and new entrants to the market. ABP will be looking to start on site next year with the scheme. The remainder of the application provides high quality green landscaping areas to boost biodiversity and a phase of ground mounted solar panels to provide green energy to the development.
In a prime strategic location next to the A180 and located two miles from the Port of Immingham and six miles from the Port of Grimsby, the designated employment site is one of the largest of the original Enterprise Zones in the area and is key to future proofing the continued growth of ABP’s commercial business on the Humber.
The site has been allocated in the local plan for employment use since 2013. Also referred to as Pioneer Business Park (PBP), it has traditionally been used as agricultural farmland and is strategically positioned directly adjacent to the A180 dual carriageway, leading to Grimsby and local motorway networks. The site is also connected to the Humber Link Road, the new port connection road built in 2021 that links Immingham and Grimsby.
In separate news, ABP has announced a new strategic relationship agreement signed with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The agreement boosts the flexibility and resilience of the UK Armed Forces sea mounting capability.
The agreement provides the MOD with access to ABP’s portfolio of ports across the UK for sea mounting (the loading and unloading of military hardware from vessels used to transport material across the world) at no additional cost to the original contract for the provision of such services at the Port of Marchwood.
Henrik L. Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer of Associated British Ports, said:
“As part of our strategic commitment to supporting the defence sector, ABP is proud to provide the MOD access to our network of ports across Britain for both national emergencies and routine business. By doing so, ABP is confident it will increase the resilience and capacity of the MOD’s sea mounting capability for the most demanding scenarios, whilst driving greater cost-effectiveness into routine deployments. We look forward to deepening our relationship with the Armed Forces and the strategic defence sector across the UK.”
Vice Admiral Andy Kyte CB, MOD’s Chief of Defence Logistics and Support (CDLS), said:
“This new arrangement greatly boosts the resilience, efficiency and agility of Defence’s Sea Mounting Capability through access to ABP’s national port estate. The relationship with ABP forms a key component of the UK Strategic Base which is critical to Defence’s ability to mount, sustain and recover force elements.”
The new strategic relationship agreement builds on the long-standing sea mounting capability at the port of Marchwood. In 2016, following a tendering process, the port was let to commerce on a 35-year lease, with the MOD as a lead customer. This model allowed the MOD to retain a sea mounting capability, but de-risk the infrastructure maintenance costs of a large and complex site. In a landmark deal, the lease also ensures that the MOD receives a share of commercial revenue generated through the port.
ABP are investing £100M in the port infrastructure at Marchwood, including jetty improvement works significantly increasing the capability of the port both for defence and commercial activities. This includes allowing the world’s largest car carrying ships to dock. Improvement and maintenance works at Marchwood will continue to ensure that Marchwood meets the MOD’s requirement now and in the future.
Marchwood is one aspect of ABP’s commitment to the Armed Forces and the defence sector more generally. Barrow, one of ABP’s portfolio of 21 ports, is fundamental to the UK’s submarine building programme. Other ports, such as Cardiff, Southampton and Hull frequently host naval vessels, not just from the UK but also NATO allies.
