BPA Calls for More Focus on Port Connectivity and Planning

BPA Following the launch of the UK Governments Industrial Strategy, British Ports Association (BPA) has called for a greater focus on port connectivity and fast tracking of planning to help ports develop and grow. We welcome the publication of todays Industrial Strategy and support the strong focus on growing the economy, investing in transport and increasing trade, Richard Ballantyne, BPA Chief Executive, said. He added that the strategy rightly recognizes that ports are hubs for employment and it includes a welcome suggestion that improving connections to ports can help to promote trade and create jobs. Furthermore, Ballantyne said that measures that enable ports to develop and grow should also be included in the strategy. BPA earlier suggested some of these measures in its Ports Zones concept, that would see port areas classified as areas for growth, enabling fast track planning and marine consents and safeguarded against unintended restrictions created by environmental and planning designations. UK ports collectively employ around 120,000 people, handling 500 million tonnes of freight each year, which represents over 95% of UK trade.