UK ports policy draft published

THE UK government has published its long awaited draft National Policy Statement for ports in England and Wales, which now goes out to public consultation.

The Secretary of State for Transport, Andrew Adonis, said: “This National Policy Statement forms a key element of the government’s programme to deliver the reforms to the planning system included in last year’s Planning Act.”

The chairman of the British Ports Association, Stephen Bracewell, welcomed the government’s policy document, which looks forward 20 years.

“There are a lot of positives in the statement,” Mr Bracewell said. “First and foremost it recognises that the industry will have to expand to cope with demand and that sufficient port capacity is an essential part of the country’s economic well being. These are hugely important messages for the planning authorities.

“We also welcome the restatement of the government’s commitment to a market led industry. This means that it is ultimately up to developers to decide where capacity is needed, and also to take the risk.”

Richard Bird of the UK Major Ports Group said: “Better late than never. We have been waiting some time for this document.

“It is very helpful that government has reaffirmed that ports are vital for the UK economy and that port development is best left to ports to bring forward in the light of their commercial judgements, operating in a market environment.

“We note that the government is pretty bullish about long term prospects, particularly for containers and ro-ro, in which it states there is a compelling case for significant port investment over the next 20 to 30 years.”

If there was one reserve, it concerns the government’s ongoing commitment that port developers should contribute to infrastructure such as road and rail links, something unique in the European Union and which is viewed as a disadvantage for UK port investment.

In his speech, Lord Adonis told Westminster: “The aim of the reforms to the planning system set out in the Planning Act is to make the planning system more responsive to challenges such as climate change, more streamlined, efficient and predictable, and more transparent and accountable with full and fair opportunities for public consultation and community engagement.

“The draft National Policy Statement for ports sets out the broad need for ports capacity looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, taking account in particular of our forecasts of port freight demand and the regional and local economic benefits of port activity.

“It also restates the government’s long-standing policy that this need can be best met by an efficient and competitive ports industry operating in a free-market environment.

“It further sets out, in the context of the government’s overall objectives for sustainable development, including mitigating and adapting to climate change and the achievement of good design, how the various potential adverse impacts of port development should be addressed by applicants with a view to avoiding, mitigating and where necessary compensating for such impacts.

“It notes how ports can support the development of low carbon energy sources and a low carbon economy. And it provides guidance about how the Infrastructure Planning Commission must weight any residual impacts in considering applications for nationally significant port developments, including in setting requirements and agreeing obligations for consented developments.

Mr Bracewell of the BPA added: “Of course all this is very much in preparation for the new Infrastructure Planning Commission and that will be an important part of the planning scene. But let us not forget the role of the Marine Management Organisation, which will handle the vast majority of consents. That organisation will need to hit the ground running when it opens for business next year.

“We will also be looking very closely at the government’s recommendations on planning applications and how they need to address a complex range of transport and environmental issues. They will set the pattern for the foreseeable future.”