Deal clears way for work on £45m harbour

The signing of an historic agreement over the bank holiday has cleared the way for work on Yarmouth's £45m outer harbour to start this summer. News of the deal between the project's chosen commercial partner International Port Holdings and Yarmouth Port Authority sweeps away years of uncertainty and paves the way for the harbour to be built and operating by the end of next year.

The project, funded through a public-private partnership, will be one of the biggest new port developments to go ahead in the UK in recent years. Built next to the present river port, it will stretch out into the North Sea, providing deep water facilities capable of taking a new generation of much bigger vessels and opening up a wealth of trade possibilities.

Norfolk's political and business leaders were last night toasting the final go-ahead for a scheme which is predicted to be a significant catalyst in the whole region's economic growth. Details of the project, including progress made on attracting a ferry operator to what would be the fastest North Sea crossing to Holland, are expected to be announced at a press conference this afternoon.

 

The return of a ferry after more than a decade would be expected to bring a massive boost to tourism as well as making Yarmouth a key port for lorry freight traffic between continental Europe and the Midlands. Economic analysts also believe a new deepwater port could leave the region poised to benefit from a potential economic jackpot in the next round of windfarm construction, mostly focused on the Greater Wash and Thames Estuary and a convenient distance to Yarmouth.

 

Daniel Cox, leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “For Yarmouth, this is the glittering prize that people have been working towards for years. This agreement with IPH is great news. Barring an extraordinary unforeseen event, it removes all the 'ifs' and 'buts'. - Yarmouth will get its outer harbour, and very soon.”

 

County council chief executive David White added: “The signatures on this agreement are of enormous significance to Yarmouth and to Norfolk. The town is already doing much to ensure a brighter future, but the outer harbour gives it an irresistible momentum. This really is an exceptional achievement by everyone involved, especially the county council, borough council and port authority, who founded the steering company EastPort in 2000.”

 

Yarmouth MP Tony Wright described it as “fantastic news and a tribute to a lot of work by many people to come to this stage.”

Meanwhile, borough council leader Barry Coleman said it was “the best possible news for everyone who lives, works and does business here”. “To say that I am thrilled is an under-statement. The port at the moment is thriving but the outer harbour will move us into the premier league,” he said. “It has been a long time coming and I am so pleased for all those who kept the faith over many years, especially those who have been working so hard to turn hopes and plans into a reality.”

 

The borough council's chief executive, Richard Packham, said the positive benefits of the outer harbour would begin immediately. “This agreement will make people look at Yarmouth afresh, and what they will see is a town and borough where a great deal is already happening and even more is planned. Add to that the enormous benefits the outer harbour will bring and the borough looks like an extremely exciting proposition for investment.”

Stephen Eldred, chairman of the port authority, said the deal would bring numerous benefits to the local economy and put Yarmouth on the map as a key UK port for a variety of goods and services.

 

Philip Watkins, chief executive of 1st East, the urban regeneration company for Yarmouth and Lowestoft, said as well as creating new business and job opportunities, the harbour would also facilitate the delivery of other significant regeneration projects.

 

It is thought the road closure notice already in place for the part of South Beach Parade overlooking the site could be implemented within weeks, allowing building work to start on the breakwaters almost straightaway.

The project's public funding amounts to about £18m, coming from the East of England Development Agency, Norfolk County Council, Yarmouth Borough Council and the European Regional Development Fund.