Port Salford is expected to create 220 new jobs under a £138 million redevelopment scheme.
The plans come after the Queen’s Speech addressed that Liverpool Gateway and seven other waterway terminals were to be established as freeports.
In an effort to reconnect the Liverpool and Manchester waterways and encourage Northern trade, the port will become the UK’s first tri-modal port, serving ship, rail, and road.
Along with the port, planning permission for 154,500 square metres of distribution warehousing is also set to be constructed.
An expected 7.5 million tonnes of cargo is set to pass through the waters each year.
A £60 million freight rail terminal is also expected to be created and run from the port to the Chat Moss line westbound.
Situated on a ‘buffer zone’ between City Airport and Peel Green Cemetery, the 15-acre plot of land has been agreed for the rail terminal between Salford City Council and developers, Peel L&P.
A ‘free port’ is a designated area by the Government with little to no tax, in order to create economic opportunities.
[1:44 PM] Sadie Maude
The redevelopment could see an increase in affordable housing, a creation of up to 220 new jobs and a narrowing of the North-South divide.
At a council meeting on Monday 8th March, Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett said: “”This is all very much part of our economic response in terms of the challenges of Covid but also making progress with what has been a long-standing economic development initiative in the city of Salford.”
The original Salford Dock, now The Quays, was opened in 1894 by Queen Victoria, before being shut down in 1982.
The building of the port is set to commence as early as 2023.
Featured image credit: © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Recent Comments