Property versus ports

But Budha Majumdar, managing director of Mersey Ports, which includes the Port of Liverpool and the Manchester Ship Canal, says: “Peel will not sacrifice operational income or property development – what we want is both. If our property people come along and suggest that there is a piece of real estate from which we can extract some incredible value but there is a port operation in the middle,we will look to see whether we can move that operation to another place.

“Only after we have found an alternative location and moved the operation can they then deal with the land. “It may well be that we can find a better site for the operation – perhaps deeper water, better connections to rail or road network, or more land or better facilities. Because, of course, what pays for that is the money you can make from appropriate property development.” His conclusion:”Property and ports are not necessarily mutually exclusive; you just have to be careful to get the mix right to achieve winning scenarios.”