EUROPE

UK ports review puts trust in operators

19 years ago

The UK Ports Policy Review interim report has concluded that a market-oriented approach to port development remains appropriate and that there would “ in general” be no additional benefit from a locally or regionally determinative ports policy.

“We … confirm our view that commercial port operators are best placed to make decisions about where and when to invest in the port sector,” it says.

But at the same time, the report sets out plans to draw up a National Policy Statement (NPS) for the ports sector.

In future, the report proposes, caseby- case planning decisions on applications for new port capacity will be made by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) or, for the largest port projects, by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC).

“As proposed in the Planning White Paper, the IPC’s decisions will be in accordance with the relevant NPS, as will be laid down in the forthcoming Planning Bill,” says the report.

“The MMO will similarly take full account of relevant NPSs and will work within the context of a UK marine policy statement and marine planning system being taken forward through the proposed Marine Bill.”

The overall outcome of the Ports Policy Review is expected to form the basis of the NPS for the ports sector, which could also extend to inland freight distribution infrastructure “where this is the direct consequence of port activity”.

In the coming year, the government will be stressing the need at European level for transparency in public funding for ports and inland infrastructure, and working to clarify the interpretation of the Habitats Directive, says the report.