Artistic impression sketch of Solent Gateway 2. This is indicative and based on our emerging proposals.
The need for Solent Gateway 2
The benefits it will deliver
The port currently contributes over £2.5 billion a year to the UK economy and supports over 15,000 jobs across the region. This proposed development is the largest tax site within the Solent Freeport and would generate a significant proportion of the projected +£400m retained business rates being forecast by the Freeport. Importantly, these rates would be held for distribution regionally and used for local development and betterment, rather than by central government.
Freeports
Freeports are areas designated by the government with significant tax and customs advantages in order to boost economic activity. Businesses in these areas are given favourable economic conditions to encourage expansion, providing jobs for the local area and contributing to the local economy.
In turn, the favourable business rates are retained by the host local authorities to be invested in infrastructure to support local growth.
We want to maintain this economic contribution across the country, especially for those living and working in and around the New Forest and Southampton. In order to do this, there is a need to generate enhanced capacity in our operations.
Our team has worked hard over many years to use every part of our existing footprint responsibly and as efficiently as we can. We now need to take the next step to secure the long-term future of both Solent Gateway and the wider Port of Southampton, as one of the UK’s most important global trade hubs. This means carefully expanding our operations in a way that supports our ongoing activity at Solent Gateway and enhances local infrastructure, while creating the opportunity for a major new country park that we can all share. This would further strengthen our contribution to the already world-leading Solent maritime cluster and offer new job opportunities for the local community.
ABP is firmly committed to achieving net zero. In addition to our core mission of Keeping Britain Trading, we have recently introduced Enabling the Energy Transition as a twin mission. This initiative centres on investing in the decarbonisation of our operations, while actively partnering with customers and stakeholders to support their sustainability goals. With this in mind, and as part of this proposed development, we will be actively exploring opportunities for on-site green energy generation using rooftop solar, as well as future proofing our facilities through the provision of shore power for vessels and onsite electrical vehicle charging infrastructure.
Why is expansion needed and why here?
The Port of Southampton is a key gateway for the UK to the rest of the world, handling goods and cargo that are fundamental to our success as a trading nation. We are also the UK’s number one cruise port, playing a key role in the tourism and leisure industry, both nationally and locally.
The demand from these key sectors is growing, but there isn’t enough space in our existing port to meet this demand. Therefore, expansion is needed in order to meet this demand and keep supporting growth in our local and national economies.
There is a clear market need for this additional capacity to be provided as soon as possible. Following sustained work over many years to make the most of our current space and infrastructure, the existing port is now nearing capacity. The land planned for Solent Gateway 2 offers the opportunity for expanding our operations in line with demand, while enabling us to make better use of the existing Solent Gateway facility too.
We recognise the valuable nature of the Waterside area and New Forest National Park and are working to identify ways in which we can both preserve and enrich this area through our proposals. This includes looking at ways of working with the National Park, so the development supports their aims.
The rest of the port would continue to operate in largely the same way that it does now, and this proposed development would help meet demand and deliver efficiencies and growth in our existing cruise and cargo operations, rather than replacing them.
