The Department for Transport has announced the approval of an application by PD Teesport to expand container terminal facilities at Teesport.

Teesport’s plans will see a six-fold increase in container handling capacity at the port - from around 250,000 TEUs a year to around 1.5 million.

Commenting on the announcement, the Freight Transport Association’s head of global supply chain policy, Christopher Snelling, said: “The increased capacity is certainly much needed, and this is a very welcome announcement. It will increase the ability of shipping lines and their customers, the retailers and manufacturers, to reach the North East directly, as well as providing extra resources for the whole of the UK.”

However, Snelling cautioned that this would not solve the UK's problems of port congestion. “This expansion has already been factored into industry forecasts regarding UK port congestion, and this will not solve the problems we face, given the expected continuing increase in containers coming into the UK.

“The UK needs greater port capacity - especially in the South East, where the large container ships serving the Asia to Europe lines will call. The government needs to proceed with planning reform and commit to support inland infrastructure development from ports to help deliver this. Otherwise, the whole UK economy will suffer.”

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