PD Ports has confirmed plans for its new Teesport Offshore Gateway following the Crown Estate’s Round 6 offshore wind auction announcement.
The development, designed as a large deep-water offshore wind manufacturing and assembly facility on the River Tees, is positioned as a strategic hub for the next phase of the UK’s offshore wind programme.
“Teesport Offshore Gateway can fill a critical gap in the UK’s offshore wind supply chain,” said Frans Calje, chief executive at PD Ports.
“What the sector now needs is the port infrastructure to match. We have the site, the consents, the deep-water access and an established industrial cluster around us.
“We can be operational by 2028, directly supporting the Clean Power 2030 mission and creating more than 2,200 jobs and £270m GVA per year across Teesside.
“The deep-water port would also secure a decisive competitive advantage for the UK, capable of taking the largest vessels and wind turbine generators along the East Coast.”
With central North Sea licence plots expected to bring 6GW of capacity to market, the facility offers the scale and deep-water access the UK currently lacks for the assembly, manufacture and deployment of both fixed and floating offshore wind. Economic modelling suggests the facility could add £270 million in gross value added (GVA) annually to the local economy, while supporting more than 2,200 direct and indirect jobs.
READ MORE: PD Ports plans UK offshore wind hub
The Teesport Offshore Gateway would be the largest and most capable offshore wind port facility in the UK, featuring berths up to 1km in length, 16m depth and up to 300 acres of supporting land within PD Ports’ Teesport estate. The facility could be operational as early as 2028, pending a final investment decision.
The project benefits from an established offshore wind and port manufacturing cluster in Teesport and Hartlepool, including JDR Cables’ subsea cable facility, EDF’s offshore wind operations base and major fabrication from SEAH and Able.
PD Ports already holds consents for deep-water berth development, with a planning variation underway to support offshore wind use. Discussions are ongoing with developers, manufacturers and installation partners, reflecting strong market interest.
