'Once-in-a-generation' bid to turn Solent area into a freeport

The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has submitted a freeport proposal to the government on behalf of a coalition of businesses, local authorities and other partner organisations - that includes Portsmouth International Port.

By gaining freeport status the area would benefit from tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and streamlined planning processes to help retain and grow business following Brexit.

Chairman of the Solent LEP, Brian Johnson, said: 'If this once-in-generation bid is successful, it will directly support the government’s commitment to levelling up the economy both here in the Solent and across the UK.

'Like many coastal communities, parts of our region have long-standing challenges to address deprivation and the pandemic has affected these communities more than most.

'Freeport status will enable us to create more than 50,000 jobs, many of them at major new employment sites that will ensure all parts of our area can benefit from the prosperity new trading relationships will bring.’

Freeports operate with both tax and customs sites, with the Solent bid looking to secure both across the region.

Tax sites offer occupiers business rates relief and other incentives to support capital investment, skills and employment and customs sites help enable the tariff-free movement of goods for both export and import through simplified customs procedures.

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Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: 'It's a really potentially positive thing for Portsmouth because we've got the port in the city but also Dunsbury Farm up in Havant, so that could encourage development there and create more jobs there, which is great for people in that area but also because the city council owns it.

'Being part of a freeport would potentially be a really good thing for people wanting to develop there and pay rent to the city council.'

But he added: 'I don't know if we'll be successful with the bid because there are only 10 going to be created across the country, and it's really targeted at places like Tees Valley in the north but our hope is there will be one in the south and that will be us.'

The deadline for bids was February 5, with the government expected to announce which areas have been successful later this year.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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