Green light for ABP’s Immingham freight terminal
Transport secretary Louise Haigh has granted a development consent order for Associated British Ports’ £100m roll-on, roll-off facility as Stena Line operations ramp up in the Humber.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Following careful consideration, the Secretary of State has approved Associated British Ports’ application for a new terminal at Immingham Eastern port.”
The Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal project has been a long-term plan advanced by ABP, which in early 2022 announced a partnership with Stena Line to jointly develop a new facility at Immingham.
A development consent order had been submitted in early 2023 for the IERRT, and a decision had been excepted by this May, following examination of the scheme by the Planning Inspectorate, which offered its recommendations in April.
However, a written ministerial statement was issued by then-Transport Secretary Mark Harper, extending the application’s deadline to 4 October, in light of the summer General Election.
Along with new berths, the project includes improved hardstanding, terminal buildings and an internal side bridge to cross over existing port infrastructure.
An ABP spokesperson said “We welcome today’s decision by the Secretary of State on this important project for enhancing the UK’s logistics infrastructure and bolstering trade capacity across the North Sea.
“We will comment further after we’ve had the opportunity to study the decision in detail.”
Under the terms of the deal between port operator ABP and Stena Line, they would jointly develop the facility, which Stena Line would then operate for its first 50 years.
The Swedish shipping giant said at the time of the deal that, with four daily freight services running between the Humber and the Netherlands, it was moving record levels of freight, meaning it needed a long-term solution to increasing capacity.
A consultation process held in 2022 led to plans being reduced in scale from the original proposals, going from four berths to three – with less expected vehicular throughput, ABP was also then able to remove the planned eastern trailer park area from the project.
As mapped out in the DfT’s communication to ABP dated 4 October, the project’s outline figures as follows:
Marine elements:
- An approach jetty
- Two finger piers
- Vessel impact protection measures
Landside works:
- A northern storage area to accommodate 266 trailer bays; 65 container (40 ft) ground slots; and 19 “trade unit” slots
- A central storage area to accommodate 211 trailer bays, 75 staff parking spaces and 15 equipment parking spaces, some UK Border Force search and welfare accommodation and a new internal bridge linking the northern and southern storage areas
- A southern storage area to accommodate 397 trailer bays, six trade unit ground slots, 50 pre-gate HGV parking spaces, and some parking for passengers and staff. Provision will also be made for tug parking and holding/marshalling lanes for accompanied units and passenger vehicles. The main customs and passport accommodation for the UK Border Force functions to be exercised and the main terminal building would also be sited here.
- A western storage area to accommodate 800 trailer bays
- A two-lane internal bridge spanning an internal port road, Robinson Road
- Widening of the width of the Port of Immingham’s East Gate to provide two lanes of entry and the installation of a replacement gate house, and on the adjoining public highway (Queens Road) the relocation of a bus stop, removal of a lay-by and the installation of a new length of footway;
- Alterations to two internal port roads, Robinson Road and Gresley Way
- Environmental enhancements
Immingham is the UK’s busiest port by tonnage. Credit: David Lee Photography
