Objections to PD Ports' $597 million deep-sea container terminal project at Teesport in Middlesbrough have been withdrawn.
Proposals by Teesport-owner PD Ports to build the new container facilities had been objected to by port operator Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) which owns rival terminals in Felixstowe and Harwich.
Reports have quoted PD Ports officials saying that after protracted discussions, Hutchison had withdrawn its objection allowing application for the required Harbour Revision Order (HRO) to go ahead.
Hutchison's initial objection to the HRO could have resulted in a public inquiry being called before the Department for Transport would evaluate development proposals.
“This is a major step forward for us and for northern (UK) shippers and retailers,” said PD Ports chief executive David Robinson.
“We will now work with the Department for Transport, which has already confirmed the withdrawal of the last objection, to enable the Minister to make an early decision,” said Robinson. “We are confident the Minister will give PD Ports the final approval needed.”
He said Hutchison had been concerned about capacity in the rail network for the increase of rail freight resulting from the proposed Northern Gateway Container Terminal at Teesport.
“The Northern Gateway will act as a Northern port for Northern markets. As a result of those discussions PD Ports decided to address Hutchison concerns directly by contributing to the provision of upgrades to the East Coast Main Line and diversionary routes,” he said.
“Accordingly, Hutchison has removed its objection to the application for a HRO made by PD Ports for its Northern Gateway proposal,” added Robinson.
Proposals by Teesport-owner PD Ports to build the new container facilities had been objected to by port operator Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) which owns rival terminals in Felixstowe and Harwich.
Reports have quoted PD Ports officials saying that after protracted discussions, Hutchison had withdrawn its objection allowing application for the required Harbour Revision Order (HRO) to go ahead.
Hutchison's initial objection to the HRO could have resulted in a public inquiry being called before the Department for Transport would evaluate development proposals.
“This is a major step forward for us and for northern (UK) shippers and retailers,” said PD Ports chief executive David Robinson.
“We will now work with the Department for Transport, which has already confirmed the withdrawal of the last objection, to enable the Minister to make an early decision,” said Robinson. “We are confident the Minister will give PD Ports the final approval needed.”
He said Hutchison had been concerned about capacity in the rail network for the increase of rail freight resulting from the proposed Northern Gateway Container Terminal at Teesport.
“The Northern Gateway will act as a Northern port for Northern markets. As a result of those discussions PD Ports decided to address Hutchison concerns directly by contributing to the provision of upgrades to the East Coast Main Line and diversionary routes,” he said.
“Accordingly, Hutchison has removed its objection to the application for a HRO made by PD Ports for its Northern Gateway proposal,” added Robinson.