Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has today (October 7) made a renewed call for Teesside to be home to the UK’s first Freeport as the Government confirmed the first are set to open by the end of next year.
The government has today set out further details around how it will create a number of new Freeports across the UK to turbo charge post-Brexit trade and create jobs, and Mayor Houchen wants Teesside to have the first.
The Freeport bidding process will open before the end of the year, with the government confirming Freeports will benefit from streamlined planning processes to aid brownfield redevelopment, a package of tax relief to help drive growth, innovation and create jobs, as well as simplified customs procedures.
The latest steps from Government builds on work done on Freeports by Mayor Houchen that culminated in a detailed policy paper being submitted to Government in 2019. The paper found a Freeport on the River Tees could create up to 32,000 jobs and add £2billion to the regional economy.
Mayor Houchen said: “After two years of hard work and pushing the Government to move forward with Freeports, this morning the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the bidding process for the free-trade zones will be open before the end of this year, and confirmation the first Freeports will be in operation during 2021.
“Let me be clear, Teesside is the perfect place to take a lead in post-Brexit international trade with the first Freeport in the UK. This would be a massive opportunity for our area and would help bring huge investment and jobs for local people in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, putting more money in their pockets for them and their families in the process.
“Announcing Teesside as the UK’s first freeport will be crucial in this Government’s commitment to levelling up. In the last election, voters in the Tees Valley placed their faith in this Government, many for the first time, on the promise that investment would finally be coming their way, and that included a Freeport.
“For years I have been pushing a case for a Freeport right here in Teesside, and the Government is now listening. Not only that, but we have helped to shape how Ministers will deliver this new scheme in the interest of people and businesses in my region.
“Now it is time for the next step. Announce Teesside as the UK’s first freeport and the Government will unleash potential that will be welcomed by local people for generations to come. We are ready to be first out of the blocks and to lead the way for the rest of the UK to follow.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, said: “Our new Freeports will create national hubs for trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK and supporting jobs.
“They will attract investment from around the world as we embrace new opportunities following our departure from the EU and will be a key driver for economic recovery as we build back better post coronavirus.”
Jerry Hopkinson, PD Ports COO and Vice Chairman, said: “PD Ports is a longstanding supporter of Freeports and we are delighted to welcome today’s announcement from Government confirming the first series of freeports are set to open in 2021.
“Both ourselves and the Tees Valley Combined Authority have highlighted the transformative potential that Freeport status offers and we will continue to work together to see how we can bring that potential to reality to the benefit of the entire region; capitalising on its strengths as a leading chemicals and manufacturing centre, increasing the potential for additional inward investment and creating thousands more jobs.
“As the Custodians of the River Tees, we share the ambition of both Local and National Government, our partners across the region and, most importantly our fellow citizens in the Tees Valley to work together to use Freeport status to win new investment, drive regeneration and create thousands of jobs in Tees Valley.”
Redcar MP Jacob Young: “We’ve worked hard to press the case for Teesside to not only get a Freeport, but to get the first Freeport.
“Working with Ben, we have helped shape our national Freeport policy and ensure that it works for the people of Redcar & Cleveland and the whole of Teesside.
“It will be vital in supercharging our plans for 20,000 jobs on the former Steelworks site, and delivering a renewed future for industry in our area.”
